Irish Eurovision star Roy Taylor has died following a battle with motor neurone disease.
The news was shared with fans and confirmed by his family via the Watch Your Back MND social media page.
A post from the charity established by Taylor said: "It is with deep sadness we wish to announce the passing of our dad and hero Roy Taylor.
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"Through his infectious positivity over the last number of years he achieved so much in the fight against MND.
"His work has helped the world get closer to be free of MND. And for that we are bursting with pride. An amazing dad and amazing person and an amazing musician.
"To everyone who supported us, you all know who you are. We love you all and he loved you all."
Roy was part of the band Jump The Gun who represented Ireland at Eurovision in 1988. Their song Take Me Home finished in eighth place after scoring 79 points. A certain Celine Dion won the contest that year representing Switzerland with a song called Ne partez pas sans moi.
The contest was held in Ireland in 1988 after Johnny Logan's Hold Me Now won in 1987.
Taylor was a bass player and singer with the band alongside Eric Sharpe, Ciaran Wilde, Brian O'Reilly and Peter Eades.
The father of four campaigned vigorously for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association since his diagnosis in 2018, including the release of a number of songs.
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system, leading to severe muscle weakness and wasting.
Taylor defiantly said in a 2019 RTE interview that the disease was "not untreatable," declaring it was rather "underfunded."
"Funding for research is essential. That's what keeps me going too, because I know it's not a question of if, it's a question of when this disease will be beaten," he added.
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