2009 to contribute his first—and what was to be his last ever—piece in six months to weekly entertainment supplement The Ticket. The article was a review of cinema in 2009 and of the 2000s, and in his contribution Dwyer referenced the ill health which had haunted him for much of the previous year and which had prevented him from viewing any cinema releases between June and September. He died at the age of 58 on 1 January 2010. His partner of 24 years Brian Jennings survives him. Irish Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen said Dwyer was "the most singular, significant influence on cinema in Ireland for more than three decades". President of the Labour Party Michael D. Higgins said his work was "incalculable [...] he was an activist in promoting a knowledge and appreciation of film in all its forms". Ireland's former Director of Film Classification at the Irish Film Classification Office John Kelleher said it was "a huge loss for the world of Irish film". Director Neil Jordan also spoke of his awe. There were tributes from Gabriel Byrne, Daniel Day-Lewis, Brendan Gleeson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Cillian Murphy and Jim Sheridan. The Irish Times published tribute pieces on his life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iftn.ie/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4282794&tpl=archnewshome&force=1|title=Tributes Paid to Film Correspondent Michael Dwyer|date=5 January 2010|accessdate=6 January 2010|publisher=Irish Film and Television Network|quote=Today's Irish Times features accolades from Mr. Dwyer's peers and Irish cinema heavyweights such as Daniel Day Lewis [...] The Irish Times''' Hugh Linehan, in the same article, describes his former colleague as "a lover of life and of movies." and continues to describe him as "the most influential Irish film critic of his generation".}}</ref> His nephew Jim Lyons (who lives in Tralee) gave him a glowing tribute describing his beloved uncle as "one in a million" and also describing Michael "being a great family man" in the Kerryman newspaper. Michael Dwyer is survived by his partner Brian, mother Mary, sisters Anne Lyons and Maria Barrett, brothers-in-law Jimmy and Timmy, nephews Nick, Jim & Nick, niece Fiona, grand-nieces Louise, Rebecca, Grace, Josephine, and Lucy. A ceremony took place at the Church of the Holy Name in Ranelagh where he lived. The event was attended by notable politicians, journalists, artists, actors, writers and musicians. RTÉ newsreader Aengus Mac Grianna, a colleague of Jennings, read a tribute to Dwyer. Daniel Day-Lewis gave a very special tribute at the church service to his dear friend