Actor Jim Bartley has said he feels "a tinge of sadness" as he bids farewell to Fair City after almost 34 years on the RTÉ soap.
The Irish star of the screen and stage has played the much-loved character Bela Doyle in the series since he joined the cast in 1990.
For a year before the character actually arrived on screen, Bela already had a reputation as Carrigstown's Casanova, despite being married to Rita and being father to their six children: Helen, Yvonne, Jimmy, Darren, Suzanne and Louise.
In Pictures: Fair City bids farewell to Bela Doyle
The Doyle family were introduced to Carrigstown in the 1990s along with the Phelan and Molloy families and dominated storylines for the decade.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment previously, Bartley said he has enjoyed some "great moments" working on the soap, especially with his on-screen family.
He said: "We've had great moments on Fair City with Sarah Flood, who plays my daughter Suzanne. I remember when she was getting married and it's just Bela and Suzanne in the house and she's in her veil. She looks at me and says, 'Yes?' And the tears are in my eyes and I say, 'Yes'. That was a lovely moment because I'd seen her growing up in the programme."
But it wasn't all family fun for Bela. He's had a string of dalliances over the years, with countless ladies falling under his spell. One storyline saw Bela welcome a secret love child with Barry O'Hanlon's girlfriend, Linda, but the baby tragically passed away.
A love triangle with Pauline, Leo Dowling's love interest and eventual wife, also followed.
Tragedy struck many times during his time in Carrigstown - death, drama and heartbreak impacting Bela and his family over the years. The death of Bela's beloved daughter Helen hit the worst.
In a statement, Bartley said of departing the show: "After over 60 years of association with RTÉ, firstly on Tolka Row, aged 18, and over 30 years spent on Fair City, I have a tinge of sadness bidding this farewell. The time has come to focus on my health.
"I'd like to wish the whole team the very best of luck. To the cast and crew, in particular, those who I have spent years working with, it was a joy going to work each day.
"My heritage goes back through the show, and all the way back to Tolka Row, RTÉ's first television soap opera, with many lifelong friendships and a lot of special memories created over the years."
Fair City's Executive Producer, Brigie de Courcy, said: "Everyone at Fair City is sad to see Jim Bartley leave.
"He was already an iconic figure in Irish soap when he joined us, and his unforgettable performance as Bela Doyle has been a central part of Fair City for over 30 years.
"As the last remaining member of the Doyle clan, his exit marks a huge shift for Carrigstown. His presence will long be felt, both as a performer and as a kind and good-humoured mentor to many younger cast members through the years. I wish him the very best in his retirement."
The Drimnagh-born actor has previously spoken about the similarities he shared with his on-screen counterpart, who he described as an "everyman".
"A lot of what Bela went through, Jim Bartley also went through in some ways," Bartley told the RTÉ Guide in 2010.
He said of joining the show: "Then in 1989, Fair City came along and in 1990 Niall Matthews [producer] rang to ask whether I'd like to play this character called Bela. As soon as I hear the name and what he was like – a rogue who likes a bit of skirt – I said that I'd do it."
In May 2013, The Late Late Show celebrated Bartley's 55 years in showbusiness.
The late Tom Jordan, who starred alongside Bartley in Fair City as Charlie Kelly, was among those who praised the actor on the night.
"Jim is a very fine actor, but the great thing about Jimmy is, you can't phase him very easily," he said, before going on to tell an amusing anecdote about a wardrobe mishap Bartley had while performing a one-man show.
Tony Tormey, who has played Paul Brennan in Fair City since 1989, spoke about working alongside Jordan and Bartley, joking: "I describe them as Waldorf and Statler, the two old men from The Muppets, because they do comment on each other, a little bit of bickering, it's all good banter!"
"If you're lucky enough to be there, it's a pleasure to be involved with."
Tormey said of Bartley joining the show in 1990: "It was a big thing because Jimmy has this reputation. I think he was brought in to give the show a kick in the behind and he certainly did that.
"Everybody knew who Jimmy was, and when you went up to him, he immediately put you at ease, put his arm around you and said, 'How's it going, kid? Go for a pint?' It's been like that ever since."
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During the Late Late segment, Bartley also spoke about landing the role of Michael Ryan, Tommy Deakin's nephew, on Coronation Street.
He said: "There was a part of a Dubliner going in Coronation Street and an agent rang me and said, 'Do you want to fly over?' Emmet Bergin and myself flew over to audition for the same part, he's a big handsome blonde, and I thought, 'I won't have a chance with this fella'.
"It was for a rag-and-bone man's nephew. We were to go in in the afternoon so I said to Emmet, 'Would you go for a pint?' He said, 'Ah no, I won't go in for a pint before this audition'.
"Well, I went for a pint and I went in [for the audition]. Emmet went in, I waited outside for him, and he said, 'I go into an audition and all they're doing is 'What's Jim like anyway?''
"He was too handsome!"
Born in 1945 in Dublin, Bartley began his career in the Olympia Theatre in 1958 in a production of The Remarkable Mr. Pennycracker.
His theatre work includes Brendan Behan's play An Ghiall, his one-man show Dublin the Long and the Short of It, As You Like It and The Country Boy.
Bartley has had roles in musicals including The Sound of Music, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Heart's a Wonder.
As well as his iconic role on Fair City, the Dubliner has also had roles in the television shows Tolka Row, The Bill, Coronation Street and Z-Cars.
He has also had film roles in War of the Buttons, Ulysses, Teresa's Wedding and The Pink Panther Strikes Again.
