organisation within the Irish Government for the promotion of all Irish arts worldwide. In 2016 he retired from the University of Limerick and was succeeded following international competition by Professor Mel Mercier, Chair of Performing Arts, a long-time musical collaborator. Working closely with Professor Helen Phelan, his second wife, he established the Irish World Academy in 22 years (1994–2016) from a zero base to some 300 students across c.20 highly innovative postgraduate and undergraduate degree programmes. Graduates from the Academy have come from in excess of 50 countries across programmes offered in Music Therapy, Contemporary Dance Performance, Irish Traditional Dance Performance, Community Music, Festive Arts, Irish Traditional Music Performance, Classical String Performance, Ethnomusicology, Ethnochoreology, Ritual Chant and Song, and others - several the first of their kind in the world. In 1995 he was central to the relocation and professionalisation of the Irish Chamber Orchestra from their Dublin Base to the Irish World Academy on the University of Limerick campus. In 2014 he established the aerial dance company Fidget Feet as Artists in Residence at the Academy, which led to them relocating permanently to Limerick City. In 2008 a specially designed building costing 21 million euros and comprising 3000 square meters was opened on the University of Limerick Campus to house the Irish World Academy. The spectacular building sits on the banks of the river Shannon (itself a major influence in the philosophy of the Academy) in a wooded area on the university campus. The innovative nature of Ó Súilleabháin's educational and artistic vision attracted the international philanthropic organisation The Atlantic Philanthropies (TAP) along with the personal interest of Chuck Feeney, TAP's originator. He died in 2018, as the result of a lengthy illness. Discography Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, 1976 (1990), Gael-Linn. Oró Damhnaigh, 1976, Gael Linn cCy of the Mountain, 1982 (2012) Gael Linn The Dolphin’s Way, 1987, Virgin Records Ltd. Oilean/Island (1989) Enlightenment with Van Morrison (1990) Casadh/Turning (1991) Gaiseadh/Flowing (1992) Between Worlds (1995) Lumen (1995) Becoming (1998) Templum (2001) Irish Destiny (DVD 2004) Elver Gleams (2010) References External links magazine article 1950 births 2018 deaths Academics of the University of Limerick Irish composers Irish pianists 20th-century Irish people 21st-century Irish people People from Clonmel