A composer, producer and scriptwriter of distinction, Farrelly was the first to spot the talent of Sinead O'Connor.

In 1984, he answered a HOTPRESS Musicians Contact ad to connect with the singer, and they went on to form the band Ton Ton Macoute.

Later, having taken over Ashtown Gatre Studios, Columb became the producer behind Dublin band The Pale. He was named Producer of the Year in the Hotpress/Smithwicks Awards in 1993, attaining the distinction for the album Here's One We Made Earlier, which he also co-wrote with the band.

He composed many scores for TV and film. The most familiar piece is the current theme music for the R.T.E soap Fair City but he also composed the music for a number of documentaries, including 'The Shamrock and The Swastika' and 'Diarmuid and Strongbow.'

Columb Farrelly was also a scriptwriter, with the short film What If? – shot with an all star cast including Simon Delaney, Niall Buggy and John Boorman – among his credits. He had a feature film Skinflick in development with the Irish Film Board.

Hot Press extends its condolences to his friends and family.