Eugene McCabe has been described as "Ireland's first modernist".
The 90 year old writer passed away overnight in Cavan General Hospital.
The President is leading tributes to him. President Higgins said he will be "remembered for an outstanding contribution to Irish theatre, for his award-winning television plays and for a body of writing that confronted with courage issues in Irish society".
Arts Minister Catherine Martin said Ireland has "lost a great writer" whose work "explored unflinchingly the human impacts of events from the Famine to The Troubles".
Born in Glasgow to Irish parents, the family moved to Clones in the early 1940s where Eugene lived since.
Arts Officer with Monaghan County Council Somhairle MacConghail said his work pushed the boundaries in the 1960s and 70s:
Clones Councillor Pat Treanor says the people of the town were proud to have his involvement in a cross community project which led to the poem "I am Clones" being written:
Cathaoirleach of the County Council Colm Carthy said Monaghan had "lost a great son" and passed on condolences to the McCabe family.
Local Minister Heather Humphreys said he will be missed by the local community and the wider arts and literary community.
