Close to €24,000 has been allocated to music groups and musicians in Galway and Mayo under the Music Capital Scheme, including to the Athenry Music School and We Banjo Three’s Enda Scahill.
The funding has been allocated under the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs’ Music Capital Scheme. It comprises two awards, which provide funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups and to professional musicians.
Athenry Music School will receive €5,370; Coole Music & Arts Ltd will get €6,078; That’s Life/Brothers of Charity Services will receive €3,358.50; while Enda Schaill, leader of the internationally successful and critically acclaimed Galway folk/bluegrass band We Banjo Three is to get €2,897.10. The remainder of the money went to two County Mayo musicians. The funding has been welcomed by the Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources and Fine Gael Galway West TD Seán Kyne TD.
“This funding will enable some of our most talented performers and groups to update their instruments and equipment,” he said. “The Government’s Creative Ireland programme, which aims to put culture and creativity at the heart of communities nationwide, contains a specific commitment to ensure every child has access to tuition in music, drama, dance or coding, and we intend to work closely with Music Network to deliver this extremely worthwhile initiative.”
