Well-known folk music promoter and journalist Geoff Harden has died after a short illness, aged 63.
Mr Harden[, pictured,] was one of best known-figures on the Northern Ireland arts scene.
Mr Harden's folk music column ran in the News Letter for over 25 years.
Born in Kent he came to Northern Ireland in 1966 after graduating as a chemist and worked for a time at Gallaher cigarette factory.
He also presented folk music programmes on Citybeat, BBC and Downtown Radio.
Mr Harden promoted many folk gigs across Northern Ireland. He was instrumental in setting up the Belfast Folk Festival in 1981 and formed the Ulster Federation of Folk Clubs. He also worked as arts and administrative manager for the new Belfast Community Arts Initiative.
Royce Harper, writer and director of the arts programme Artery on Northern Visions television worked with Geoff on a number of projects.
"He was one of the few people in the media who did what he did out of sheer love and belief," Mr Harper said.
"He was a very kind and unassuming man. I think Northern Ireland has suffered a great loss."
Mr Harden, who lived in north Belfast, is survived by his wife Evelyn, sons Alastair and Niall and daughter Marina.