President Michael D Higgins has expressed “great sadness” at the death of Galway arts administrator Michael Diskin, who died at the weekend after a long illness, at the age of 49.

Mr Diskin, whose funeral takes place today in Galway, was manager of the Town Hall Theatre and a leading member of the city’s arts community.

Mr Higgins described him yesterday as a “dear friend”, and said he would be a “huge loss to all those who worked in the arts, culture, theatre and performance on this island”.

The President said Michael Diskin brought the Town Hall and the Black Box theatres in Galway to the forefront of performance, making them among the most used venues in the country.