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.