A special memorial service in honour of an Irish art historian is due to take place in Limerick tomorrow. Kathryn Hayes reports.
The founding director of the Limerick Hunt Museum, John Hunt, died last August.
The 47-year-old father of three was the driving force behind the museum which houses the Hunt Collection - a collection of more than 2,000 works of art and antiquities ranging in date from the Neolithic to the 20th century.
This year, it was declared Irish Museum of the Year by President McAleese.
Mr Hunt and his sister, Ms Trudy Hunt, remained on the board of the museum until earlier this year when they stepped aside for the duration of an investigation into allegations that some of collection may have been looted by Nazis. However, nothing has emerged to date to substantiate these claims.
John Hunt was also a well-known arts critic and journalist for many years.
He was visual arts critic for the RTÉ Radio arts shows The Arts Show and Rattlebag , and arts correspondent for Lyric FM.
As a print journalist, he worked with Circa, and the Evening Echo.
He also served on a number of boards, including, Island Theatre Company and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, in Annamakerrig.
In 2001, Mr Hunt was awarded a Gold Medal by the Royal Hibernian Academy in recognition of his unique and special contribution to the world of Irish arts.
In 1997 he and his sister were awarded the Freedom of the City of Limerick.
A special memorial service celebrating John Hunt's life will take place at St Mary's Cathedral in Limerick tomorrow at 5 p.m.
The service has been organised by the Hunt Museum and the Hunt Museum's Trust.