Tributes paid after death of sound engineer Dennis Herlihy

TRIBUTES are pouring in for a Corkman who was a sound engineer for some of the biggest events in Cork city.

Dennis Herlihy passed away on Saturday and was well known for his work at Sir Henry's, with the European Capital of Culture 2005 project, and with the Pulses of Tradition. He had also worked on sound at the Triskel and with Note Productions, and had contributed to several events around the country as a events safety adviser to organisations including the Liffey Swim, Cork City Council, Dublin City Council, Cork Folk Festival, Tradfest, and Ballymun Otherworlds Festival.

The artistic director of the Triskel, Tony Sheehan said one of his first encounters with him was when he was in charge of health and safety for Cork's tenure as European Capital of Culture in 2005. One of his biggest events during the Capital of Culture was the Ceili Mor on Patrick Street, featuring up to 10,000 dancers on the street.

Mr Sheehan later became his boss at the Triskel.

He decribed him as a genius and said: "He demanded a lot of himself. He loved music, he loved festivals and concerts."

Mr Sheehan said the sound design of the Triskel is a big legacy from Dennis Herlihy, and he said he was very proud of the work Mr Herlihy had done on it.

He added: "Hundreds and hundreds of musicians will remember Dennis because of his skills and his great way with people. We all will miss him terribly."

Veronica Forde, the assistant Civil Defence officer with Cork City Council, also paid tribute to him. She said: "My first meeting with Dennis was in 2004 when Cork City Civil Defence was asked to contribute to the European City Of Culture 2005 opening and closing events/ceremonies and Dennis was one of the organising committee. Our paths also crossed on the technical committee of the Cork City Marathon. Dennis was always professional with great attention to detail."

While in Sir Henry's, he travelled to Paris to bring back a sound system – making the venue to first in Ireland to have a system "flowing" from the ceiling, according to the Irish Examiner's Arts editor, Des O'Driscoll.

Mr O'Driscoll added: " In more recent years, Denis also designed the sound system for Triskel Christchurch. He was also a lovely guy, and it's nice to hear so many tributes from some of the many Cork bands that Denis would have helped through the years."

DJ and RedFM presenter Stevie G said: "Dennis came from an almost mystical era that i used always hear about as a kid growing up in the 80s. I later became friends with many of those who were active in the music scene of that time; it was always bubbling but never quite got the recognition it should have really, and each of them would always tell me how important he was in it all. He was a young man and will be sadly missed.” Gary Sheehan, head of programming at the National Concert Hall, desribed Saturday as an "immeasurably sad day" with the announcement of Dennis Herlihy's death. He said he had enjoyed many years working with him at the Triskel, Note Productions and in other contexts. He continued: "He helped to make projects with Cathal Coughlan, Martin Hayes, Iarla O'Lionaird better."

And he said: "He was there to help start The Gloaming day one. He has done similar great work for lots and lots of bands, promoters and venues."

Cork Folk Festival also tweeted a tribute to Mr Herlihy, praising him for "some amazing work" during Cork's tenure as European Capital of Culture.