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THE MUCH-LOVED food critic, restaurateur and broadcaster Paolo Tullio has died after a short illness, it was announced this evening.

He was 65 years of age.

Tullio was well-known as the Irish Independent’s food writer, and as a kind and generous critic on “The Restaurant”, which aired on RTÉ, before moving to TV3 this year.

His regular appearances on Seán Moncrieff’s afternoon show on Newstalk were extremely popular with listeners.

His friend Moncrieff paid tribute to him on Twitter this evening:

His agent Noel Kelly announced the Italian’s passing on Facebook:

It’s with great sadness that I heard of Paolo Tullio’s death today. I am missing a great friend, full of kindness and with only positive things to say of others.

The world is missing an incredible Chef and culinary expert. He was one of life’s true gentlemen, a word overused but not in this case as Paolo was a gentleman to the core.

Tullio first came to Ireland in 1968, studying at Trinity College and working a variety of jobs, including as a clinical psychologist and interpreter.

He opened the Armstrong’s Barn restaurant in Annamoe, Co Wicklow in 1977, and was awarded a Michelin Star the following year.

He turned his hand to journalism in 1989, and had been the Irish Independent’s food writer since 1997.

Fellow critic on The Restaurant, and renowned food and wine writer Tom Doorley, expressed his disbelief at the passing of Tullio, on Twitter tonight.