It is with profound sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our colleague Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, who earlier this week died unexpectedly at the age of 67. Mícheál, Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Limerick and founding director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, served on the steering committee of the SMI in 2002-03, and then on the Society's first Council (2003-06). He made an extraordinary contribution to Irish cultural life as a performer, composer, academic, educational innovator, broadcaster and writer.

We are pleased to announce that Professor Jim Samson has been awarded the Irish Research Council-Harrison Medal for 2018. The award ceremony and lecture will take place in Dublin on Thursday 28 March 2019 at 6 pm. The venue will be confirmed in due course. Professor Samson, who will deliver a lecture entitled 'Who needs a passport? Music in South East Europe', is Emeritus Professor of Music at Royal Holloway University of London.

The Royal Irish Academy of Music has announced its series of guest lectures for this academic year: listed below.  All take place from 1 pm to 2 pm in the Recital Room, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Westland Row, Dublin 2. Admission is free.

Wednesday, 24 October 2018, Bryce Morrison: 'Eileen Joyce: a celebration and a cautionary tale'.

The SMI Jazz Studies Reading Group meets once a month for informal discussion of papers, articles and book chapters that have impacted jazz studies. It is a group of graduate and early-career researchers interested in jazz studies and related socio-cultural issues, including race, gender and identity. The group, organised by Dr Damian Evans and Mr Kevin Higgins, meets in room B118, Block B, St Patrick's Campus, Dublin City University, Dublin 9. The first meeting - as an official SMI reading group - will take place on Friday 2 November at 1.00pm.