President Michael D. Higgins was among those who paid tribute to the legendary Irish opera singer and music teacher Dr Veronica Dunne who has died at the age of 93.
The Dubliner established the Veronica Dunne Singing Competition in 1995 which went on to become one of the most highly regarded competitions of its kind in the world during her career spanning seven decades as an internationally renowned soprano.
President Higgins said that news of her death today “will have deeply saddened all those who love the power and beauty of music.”
“Throughout her life, Dr. Veronica Dunne captivated millions with her singing. The legacy she leaves lies in the talents of those scores of others whose talents and performances she unlocked with her enthusiasm, energy and commitment as a teacher and friend,” he said in a statement this evening.
The resumption of major concerts and events after the pandemic moved a step closer with the establishment of a new advisory group on reopening the live entertainment sector.
Promoters and entertainment industry experts will advise Nphet and the Government on requirements to safely manage events as lockdown restrictions are eased.
The consultative stakeholder forum, established by Culture Minister Catherine Martin, will provide technical expertise and practical know-how on the staging of events when the sector reopens, a government source said.
The group is made up of officials from Ms Martin s department, the Events Industry Alliance of Ireland and the Live Venue Operators Forum, members of the City and County Managers Association, event safety consultants, the Event Production Industry Covid-19 Working Group, Department of Housing officials and the Live Venue Collective - a recently established group of small- to medium-sized venues working to sustain the industry.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been hawkish, warning of no let-up in restrictions in the interim period and guarding against any relaxation of attitudes. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has adopted the dove approach, seeking to offer hope of lockdown lifting and not being as definite.
Along with the hawks and the doves, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has been a dead duck, not going either way and taking flak.
The failure of internal communications has resulted in a set of high-profile incidents where ministers haven’t been singing from the same hymn sheet.
After the Taoiseach warned of restrictions continuing until late April, the Tánaiste appeared to be at odds with him. The difference has been put down to Mr Varadkar not being clear what Mr Martin had said, with a transcript failing to be provided fast enough.
Cabinet ministers fear a public backlash over new mandatory quarantine plans which they believe do not go far enough to stop the spread of the virus from overseas.
Cabinet ministers fear a public backlash over new mandatory quarantine plans that they believe do not go far enough to stop the spread of the virus from overseas.