Patricia McBride Lousada, an iconic American ballet dancer whose father was from Donegal, has passed away at the age of 89.
Ms McBride was a founding member of the New York City Ballet.
She died on the 8th January in London after suffering a heart attack while riding her bicycle, the New York Times reports.
Born in New York in 1929, Patricia danced from a young age.
Her father Charles was an Irish immigrant from Ballybofey in Donegal. He worked as a stock market broker before the crash, after which the family moved to New Jersey.
She was invited to join the Ballet Society in 1946, which later became known as the New York City Ballet.
She was taught by George Balanchine, one of the most prominent choreographers in the history of ballet, and was cast in many key roles. She retired from ballet in 1951 and was married twice, to theatre director Carmen Capalbo and lawyer Sir Anthony Lousada.
She was also a popular food author who wrote recipe books under name of Patricia Lousada.
Ms McBride is survived by her four children and five grandchildren.
