Plans by Limerick Civic Trust to commemorate 19th century diva Catherine Hayes have been unveiled with confirmation that opera star Dame Joan Sutherland is among the many patrons pledged to support the €4 million project.
Born in Limerick in 1818, Catherine Hayes was the first Irish-born opera singer to achieve international acclaim and the first Irishwoman to sing at La Scala in Milan and Covent Garden in London.
She was a member of the Royal Italian Opera invited to give a royal command concert for Queen Victoria and 500 guests at Buckingham Palace. Affectionately known as "The Swan of Erin", she will be finally honoured in her native Limerick when a €250 million shopping development planned for Patrick Street is named after her.
Limerick Civic Trust has also announced plans to restore her childhood home, a protected building at No 4 Patrick Street.
A delegation from the trust has just returned from London where the European launch of the Catherine Hayes Project was held.
The group also celebrated the completion of the restoration of Catherine Hayes's grave at Kensal Green in London where she is interred with the likes of world-renowned Irish composers William Vincent Wallace and Michael Balfe.
Speaking at the launch in the House of Lords in London, chairman of Limerick Civic Trust Martin Bourke revealed that Dame Joan Sutherland and her husband, maestro Richard Bonynge, had agreed to be patrons of the Catherine Hayes Project.
Other patrons include Basil Walsh, author of the definitive biography of Hayes, internationally renowned composer Bill Whelan and Freeman of Limerick, former rugby international Keith Wood. A concert featuring Bill Whelan will take place in Limerick shortly to celebrate the Irish launch of the project.
"To have the support of Dame Joan and the others is the best possible testimony to the greatness of Catherine Hayes," said Mr Bourke.
There will also be exhibitions on her life and her career featuring rare material and memorabilia. "Now that the project is up and running Limerick Civic Trust is inviting the people of Limerick and of Ireland to be part of what we are trying to achieve.
"The trust would welcome support of kinds from every sector of society," he added.
Contributions and donations can be sent to: Limerick Civic Trust, Catherine Hayes Project, Bishops' Palace, King's Island, Limerick.