Linda Duff

Tributes are being paid to showbiz correspondent, Linda Duff

Journalist Linda Duff (53) passed away in Dublin on September 3rd from a suspected heart attack. Her funeral took place on Saturday September 7th in St Anthony’s Church, followed by her burial in Dardistown Cemetery, Cloghran.

Linda was a fond character in the Irish and British music industry and associated with the launch and promotion of acts like Pet Shop Boys and Take That. On first name terms with some of the biggest stars of the 80s and 90s, it was Linda who broke the news that Robbie Williams was splitting from Take That. Gary Barlow has led tributes, saying “I will be forever grateful to Linda for being the very first person to write about us. It was tough in the early days for the band, so any break we got in the media went a long way. I was very sad to hear that she had passed, RIP.”

Her career in journalism began with running the fan club of local band The Vipers, before landing a job at Hotpress Magazine. While there, she wrote to the editor of Smash Hits and received a job writing a column in the leading magazine of its day. She then went on to work for the Daily Mirror and was subsequently appointed Pop Editor with the Daily Star.

Linda died age 53 and is survived by her brothers and sisters Dermot, Imelda, Denis, Vivian, Frank and Barbara.