Press release
Minister Foley announces details of 24 organisations to benefit from participation in €100,000 Non-Mainstream Music Education Bursary Scheme
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Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Education Norma Foley today announced details of the 24 successful organisations that will receive a grant under her department’s Non-Mainstream Music Education Bursary Scheme 2022.
The Non-Mainstream Music Education Bursary scheme provides a means, by way of a small cash grant, to support music education and music initiatives to continue to cultivate the talent of our young musicians. These organisations, groups and individuals provide access to a variety of music education experiences for young people and children in the community outside of school and curriculum provision.
In March of this year, the Department of Education invited applications for grants under the scheme. The total budget available in 2022 is €100,000. A full list of the 24 successful recipients is provided below.
Minister Foley said:
“Bursaries available under this scheme will help organisations to provide resources they need to continue working with children and young people in community settings.
“Music is in our DNA and is an important way for people to express themselves and show their creativity. I hope that these grants can enable community organisations to continue providing music tuition and classes for the remainder of this year and assist in the recovery from the impact of COVID-19 on our children and young people.”
Some of the recipients include:
St. Agnes’ Community Centre for Music and the Arts was established in November 2013 by Sr. Bernadette Sweeney. It provides access to music tuition and group classes on an inclusive basis to all young members of the Crumlin community. It currently caters for 350 children and young people per week. The centre is open five days per week and on occasion they have concerts and events on Saturdays and Sundays also. Their musical aims are primarily based on the principle of access to all. Quality of provision is guaranteed by their expert teaching staff and regular participation in the Royal Irish Academy of Music Grade examinations. Performance opportunities include orchestral concerts on an ongoing basis, two summer concerts to showcase CCMA talent and following a summer camp in July each year the week culminates in an orchestral concert in Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin. In addition, they have an annual pantomime and musical.
The Whitefriar Street String Project operates out of the Carmelite Community Centre, Aungier Street, Dublin 2. It is a string programme for children aged 6 – 12 years. The initiative was established 2011. It caters for 96 students across 1st to 6th classes in non-mainstream outside of school times. Musicianship classes take place on Saturdays. Through the initiative it provides free professional string tuition to local children between 6 & 12 years of age – for children who attend local DEIS schools. The programme fosters social inclusion and integration of local children and families.
The programme runs outside of school curriculum and has reached greater than 200 children. Each year 3 students from the project are awarded a scholarship to join the Youth Orchestra Programme (www.yops-ireland.com) to further advance instrumental training. The strings programme provides free instruments and class tuition. They have performed for President Michael D. Higgins in 2012 and in Temple Bar Trad Fest in 2013. Free rehearsal space is provided by the Carmelite Community Centre. The initiative wants to purchase instruments with the bursary.
| Amount | Recipient | County |
| €17,000 | St. Agnes’ Community Centre, Crumlin | Dublin |
| €17,000 | Whitefriar Street String Project | Dublin |
| €6,000 | Clondalkin Youth Band | Dublin |
| €5,000 | Musica Fusion Community Orchestra | Cork |
| €5,000 | Finglas Concert Band | Dublin |
| €4,000 | Sandyford Youth Band | Dublin |
| €4,000 | Accora Orchestra | Cavan |
| €3,000 | Ceol na Loca Tourmakeedy | Mayo |
| €3,000 | Portarlington Concert Band | Offaly |
| €3,000 | Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta | Galway |
| €2,500 | Wicklow Miners CCE | Wicklow |
| €2,500 | West Offaly Comhaltas | Offaly |
| €2,500 | The Stedfast Band | Dublin |
| €2,500 | Loughmore CCE | Tipperary |
| €2,500 | Cahir Comhaltas | Tipperary |
| €2,500 | Club Ceoil Blarney | Cork |
| €2,500 | Comhaltas Douglas | Cork |
| €2,500 | Cnoc na Gaoithe | Clare |
| €2,500 | Bofield CCE | Mayo |
| €2,500 | Craobh Ciaseal Mumhan CCÉ | Tipperary |
| €2,000 | St. Brendan's Music Group | Mayo |
| €2,000 | Arklow Silver Band | Wicklow |
| €2,000 | Naomh Brid Music | Laois |
| €2,000 | Cullen Pipe Band | Cork |