Nicky Ryan, the music producer who helped make Enya a global superstar, has died.
Mr Ryan (79) was the producer behind Enya’s music which included her breakthrough album Watermark, which included the hit single Orinoco Flow.
He worked with several artists in the 1970s and 1980s including Gary Moore, Planxty and Christy Moore.
He was the manager of Clannad for several years before leaving the band and forming a partnership with Enya, who wanted to pursue a solo career.
Enya’s work was a collaboration between her, Mr Ryan and his wife Roma, who were all listed as co-writers.
The follow-up album Shepherd Moon was also an international hit.
Together they collaborated on eight albums. Enya’s music underwent a resurgence in the United States after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Uniquely among artists, she never toured or played her music live.
President Michael D Higgins described Mr Ryan’s contribution to Enya’s music as “immense – underpinning her work with a distinctive sound which has made so much of Enya’s work unique”.
“May I express my deepest condolences to Roma, to their daughters Persia and Ebony, to Enya and to all those with whom Nicky collaborated, and to his many friends and colleagues.”
Hot Press editor Niall Stokes described Mr Ryan as one of Ireland’s “all-time greats”.
He added: “I loved Nicky and the great maverick strain that he had in his approach to life and to music. I met him first back when he was the live sound engineer with Planxty – and you could tell from those gigs that he had something special. His attention to detail was amazing.”
The life of Mr Ryan will be celebrated at a humanist service in the National Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire on Monday at 11am.