He died following a short illness.

Irish actor, playwright and director Donal Courtney has passed away at the age of 52. As RTÉ reports, he died following a short illness. Courtney, who was from Killarney, won acclaim for his performance in his one-man show, God Has No Country. He wrote the play himself, and it documented the story of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty during World War II. As well as appearing in numerous RTÉ productions throughout the years, Courtney was widely credited with introducing the world of acting to Michael Fassbender. At the start of this year, Courtney and Fassbender began work on their latest enterprise, the West End House - School of Arts in Killarney. The Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Society issued a statement paying tribute to Courtney after his death was announced. The group said: "It was with great shock and sadness that we heard yesterday of the untimely passing of our dear friend Donie Courtney, renowned drama coach, playwright, producer, director and performer. "The members of the Memorial Society will greatly miss Donie – a true friend of the Society, using his great creative talent to help us spread awareness in a most unique way. To his wife Adeline and his two young children and to his siblings and the wider Courtney family, we extend our deepest Sympathies and sincere Condolences. A master dramatist has left us, but his legacy remains."