Obituary: Christie Hennessy

One of Ireland's best-loved singer-songwriters, Christie Hennessy, has died from asbestosis, aged 62. The Kerry-born artist wrote some of Ireland's best-known folk songs for high-profile musicians such as Christy Moore.

Tralee-born Hennessy may have contracted asbestosis from working on London building sites when he first went from Ireland to England as a teenager. At night, he played music in London clubs.

Several Irish artists attained their first number ones covering his songs, including Moore, Frances Black and Maire Brennan. Christie was patron of the Irish charity Children in Crossfire.