It is with profound sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our colleague Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, who earlier this week died unexpectedly at the age of 67. Mícheál, Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Limerick and founding director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, served on the steering committee of the SMI in 2002-03, and then on the Society's first Council (2003-06). He made an extraordinary contribution to Irish cultural life as a performer, composer, academic, educational innovator, broadcaster and writer.