TRIBUTES have been paid to an Armagh grandfather, who has been described as a "most significant figure in the Irish organ playing and church music world".
Baron George Minne, who was aged in his late nineties, died peacefully at his home in the city on Saturday.
His death was announced by his family on social media.
The father-of-four was well known for his contribution to the musical life of Armagh Cathedral, where he was the organist from 1959 until his retirement in 2005.
A native of Ghent in Belgium, Mr Minne was the last of a second generation of Belgian organists to arrive in Ireland.
According to Armagh Parish, in 1952, he was appointed organist and choirmaster in Roscrea and in 1956, moved to the parish of Kilrush after a short spell teaching in Stonyhurst in England.
"George with his wife Jeannie and his young family left the diocese of Killaloe in 1959 for the position of Organist in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh where he inherited a rich tradition of sacred music.
"Apart from his duties as organist and choirmaster in the cathedral and teaching positions in St Patrick's Grammar School and St Catherine’s College, George was in high demand as an organ recitalist across the country."
The tribute added: "It was through national radio broadcasts of George’s recitals that enabled his playing to reach such a wide audience and exposed many for the first time to continental organ repertoire.
"Until his retirement as Cathedral Organist in 2005, Baron Minne played at all major liturgical events and was honoured by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, being awarded the ‘Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice’ medal in October 2004, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the musical life of the Cathedral."
