Shock at death of leading arts figure

ARTS Minister John O’Donoghue led tributes yesterday to Wexford Festival Opera chief executive Jerome Hynes, who died suddenly at the age of 48.

"His passing is a great shock to all in the arts community, both nationally and internationally" said the minister.

Former arts minister Michael D Higgins described the death of Mr Hynes, who was also deputy chairman of the Arts Council, as "an enormous loss to the world of culture".