Tributes paid to business figure

Tributes have been paid to the businessman and art collector Vincent Ferguson (75) whose funeral takes place in Co Sligo later today.

In a long business career, he was chief executive of Fitzwilton, chairman of the Dublin Gas Company, a director of the Central Bank and a director of Independent News & Media for more than 30 years.

He was an influential figure in Fine Gael and a substantial fundraiser.

He was best known as one of Ireland's foremost art collectors and bought Hendriks Art Gallery, in Dublin in 1984.

In 1997 he donated 35 of his paintings to the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Imma), including works by Brian Bourke, Edward Maguire and Elizabeth Magill.

Imma chairman Eoin McGonigal said: "Everyone at the Imma is deeply saddened to learn about Vincent Ferguson's death. He made a very generous donation to Imma. All are by Irish artists, or artists closely associated with this country.

"The works represent most of the dominant strands in Irish paintings of the 1980s."

He is survived by his wife Noeleen, three sons and three daughters. He will be buried after funeral Mass at St Columba's Church, Rosses Point.