FORMER US presidential candidate John McCain has been described as a “real friend of Ireland”.
Mr McCain died aged 81 on Saturday at his ranch in Arizona after a battle with brain cancer.
In 2008 the former senator ran for president but was defeated by Barack Obama.
During the Vietnam war he was held as a prisoner for more than five years after his plane was shot down.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last night said "on behalf of the people of Ireland, I extend my deepest sympathies on the death of Senator John McCain, a wise and remarkable statesman, US ally of Ireland and a proud Scots Irishman who was a champion for immigration reform in the US Senate”.
Tánaiste Simon Coveney also described him as "a great American of strength, principle and courag,”.
“John McCain was a real friend of Ireland too and will be missed by so many."
Tributes were also paid by world leaders including British Prime Minister Theresa May.