Endless curiosity about people and a generous enjoyment of human nature are the hallmarks of Maeve Binchy’s life and work. Sadly she passed away last July, but she’s left us with A Week in Winter,  the spell-binding final novel that shows her at the height of her powers. Cahir O'Doherty considers the life and work of the unmatchable Irish author.

Calls are being made for a Binchy Bridge memorial to author Maeve Binchy, who passed away earlier this week.

Thousands attended the funeral of novelist Maeve Binchy in Dublin in pouring rain yesterday.

The Irish novelist Maeve Binchy, most widely known for her books “A Circle of Friends” and “Tara Road”, has passed away in Dublin following a short illness.
 
Binchy passed away in a Dublin hospital with her husband, fellow author, Gordon Snell, by her side.
 
During her prolific career Binchy sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Her works include dozens of novels, novellas, collections of short stories and non-fiction. Popular novels such as “Circle of Friends”, “The Lilac Bus”, and “Tara Road” were adapted as Hollywood movies.
 
Binchy began her writing career as a journalist, with the position of woman’s editor at the Irish Times before moving on to the newspaper’s London desk. During her time in London she wrote her first novel “Light a Penny Candle”, in 1982, which became a bestseller.
 
The Dublin writer was included on the list of Britain’s top ten most popular writers and featured on the New York Times’ Bestseller List. She also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1999 and “Tara Road” was featured on Oprah Book Club.
 
Although she had announced her retirement in 2000 Binchy continued to write.
 
Two years ago with the publication of her latest novel “Minding Frankie” she announced that she would be unable to tour the US with her newest publication due to ill health.
 
At the time she wrote on her website “My health isn’t so good these days and I can’t travel around to meet people the way I used to. But I’m always delighted to hear from readers, even if it takes me a while to reply. So I hope all my American readers enjoy the new book.”
 
Her death was announced by Vincent Browne on TV3 on Monday evening. Politicians, actors and fans have taken to Twitter to pay tribute to the much loved author.
 
Ireland’s President Michael D Higgins tweeted “RIP Maeve Binchy. Our country mourns.”

In what has been described as a "literary coup" by the Irish Independent, a group of inner-city students has persuaded author Maeve Binchy to write the introduction to their book of short stories, entitled 'Yet to Be Told.'

With her new novel Minding Frankie, author Maeve Binchy will delight her legions of fans across the United States with a heartwarming tale of a community responding to a personal crisis.

Maeve Binchy, Ireland's beloved bestselling novelist, will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Irish Book Awards.

There was a time in the distant past when Irish novelist Maeve Binchy, 69, was not an internationally famous best-selling author. She remembers it vividly.