Tributes have been paid to the acclaimed Belfast-born poet Michael Longley, who has died at the age of 85. The President of Ireland Michael D Higgins said he regarded him "as a peerless poet" and that he would be recognised as one of the greatest poets Ireland had ever produced.

Deep sadness has been expressed following the death of Belfast poet Michael Longley. Mr Longley died at the age of 85 in hospital on Wednesday. He won a number of awards for his writing throughout his life including the TS Eliot Prize,

Queen’s University Belfast has said it is ‘saddened to hear of the passing of one of Ireland's great poets and Honorary graduate Michael Longley CBE’.