‘True scholar’ remembered

The funeral has taken place of Tony Langlois, founder of IndieCork Film Festival, who passed away on Saturday.

Mr Langlois, who lived in Cork and was a lecturer at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in Limerick, died unexpectedly on Saturday morning.

A humanist funeral was held yesterday, Wednesday, for Mr Langlois at The Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy.

Mr Langlois founded IndieCork Film Festival in 2013, Ireland’s premier festival of independent film and the largest festival for short film in the country. He also founded the Jersey International Film Festival in the UK.

One of the many heartfelt tributes paid following the news of his death was that of Mr Langlois’ colleague Dr Rosemary Day, Head of Department in Media & Communications at MIC.

‘‘We are devastated by the loss of our dear colleague and best friend, Dr Tony Langlois,” said Dr Day.

She continued: “Tony’s life ended suddenly and leaves his wife, children, grandchildren, and many, many friends from all walks of life stunned at his loss.

“Tony was a true scholar and a fine academic. His work in ethnomusicology; film studies; journalism; sociology and so many other areas of the wide-ranging discipline of Media Studies will live on in his many books and articles but especially in the minds and memories of his students,” added Dr Day.

Mr Langlois, who joined MIC as a lecturer in Media & Communications in 2001, was instrumental in the development of the students’ community radio station, Wired FM, a joint partnership between MIC and Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). He was also involved in the co-ordination and direction of the national research centre for audio studies, ARC.

Also paying tribute to was Prof. Niamh Hourigan, acting President of MIC.

“It is with great sadness that we learned of Tony’s untimely death on Saturday,” she said.

“The high esteem in which he was held, by both colleagues and students, is evident in the outpouring of grief across the campus this week.

“Tony will be remembered as an esteemed educator, an engaged collaborator, a talented artist, and a passionate supporter of emerging and independent artists.

“On behalf of the MIC community, I offer my heartfelt sympathies to his wife Úna, children Aislinn and Pascal and grandchildren Arlo, Auryn and Senan. Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí air,” added Prof. Hourigan.