"...the dozens and dozens of half page spreads you engineered in the Irish Times over the past twenty years marking the Academy's progress, and how you always fought the  Academy's corner within the wider UL picture in terms of visibility and achievement recognition? And the number of hotel rooms you booked? And cups of coffee you bought for visiting artists and scholars? And taxis you ordered? And radio and television programmes you swung? And the media people you charmed! It's great for us all to see you establishing Ellie Byrne Promotions and to already see the interaction between your new professional life and the Academy. Seems like we have not so much lost a colleague as gained a consultant. Long may it continue"

 

- Dr Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Founder Director of the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick