Louth musicians to receive funding through Music Capital Scheme

Music Network has announced the results of the latest round of the Music Capital Scheme, with a number of musicians from Louth among those to receive funding.

A total of €1,066,940 in funding from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport has been granted to 191 awardees which will potentially benefit over 10,000 musicians based throughout Ireland, through Awards 1, 2 & 3 of the scheme.  

From Louth, Ardee Concert Band, Carlingford Pipe Band, Solid Rock Church Drogheda, Drogheda Brass Band, Dundalk Youth Centre, Lourdes Brass band and individual musicians Jennifer Murphy, Conor McAuley and Róisín Ward Morrow, are among those to receive funding.

Established in 2008, the Music Capital Scheme is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and managed by Music Network.  The Scheme has enabled many thousands of musicians across Ireland to develop their musical potential and participate in the performance of live music, in all genres. 

The scheme comprises five distinct awards and provides vital funding for the purchase and restoration of musical instruments and selected equipment. This week's announcement relates to Awards 1, 2 and 3, which support non-professional performing groups and individual professional musicians. 

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Commenting on the initiative, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan T.D. said: “I would like to sincerely thank Music Network for once again managing the Music Capital Scheme. This funding allows so many deserving organisations and individuals to receive the support they need to purchase musical instruments."

He added: The Music Capital Scheme is one of my Department’s key funding initiatives and I am so happy that we are in a position to financially support the growth of the scheme. I have no doubt the benefits of the Musical Capital Scheme funding to the 79 organisations and 112 individual musicians in receipt of these awards will be felt for many years to come.” 

Pat Moylan, Chair of Music Network commented: “We would like to express our deep gratitude to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for its ongoing commitment to providing vital funding for musical instruments to groups, individual musicians and most recently, arts venues and music presenters.

"This investment continues to make a significant impact on the quality of, and access to, music-making and live performance throughout Ireland.”  

Music Network’s CEO Sharon Rollston commented: “Music Network has been working to make high quality live music accessible to everyone in Ireland and to support professional musicians to excel in the performance and creation of music, for the past 40 years. Schemes such as this play a crucial role in making that vision achievable.   

"The organisations supported through this latest funding round reflect the diversity of Ireland’s music community. They include a homelessness service, a community centre supporting older adults to live independently, a queer-led artist support group, youth services, music schools offering inclusive programmes, organisations supporting migrant communities, and choral and instrumental groups with members of all ages. 

"The number and range of instruments provided through the Music Capital Scheme year-on-year continue to make a significant impact on the quality of, and access to, music making and live music performance across Ireland.”