Leading arts figure Jerome Hynes dies in Wexford

One of the leading figures in the Irish arts world, Jerome Hynes, has died after he collapsed last night at Wexford Theatre.

Mr Hynes, who was the chief executive of the Wexford Festival Opera, fell ill while giving an on-stage address to the stars of this year's festival, which gets underway next month.

The Galway native was deputy chairman of the Arts Council and a member of the board of the National Concert Hall.

He also oversaw the development of the Druid Theatre Company into a major organisation and was appointed by the Government earlier this year to chair a committee on the traditional arts.