The announcement of grants (23rd June 2026) has been made by Community Foundation Ireland which works to turn donations by viewers into actions on the ground which benefit children and their families.
Music Network is receiving support of €33,000 for Musical Me!, a unique and inclusive arts project in partnership with St. Michael's House Special Schools in Baldoyle, Ballymun and Raheny.
Musical Me! grew from a pilot project delivered in partnership with St. Michael’s House School in Ballymun in 2025. It is a music and movement programme designed for students aged 4–17 with moderate to severe learning and physical disabilities.
Bringing live music directly into the classroom, the programme is led by professional musicians and a specialist facilitator. Through high quality live performances, creative activities, movement based exploration, and participatory music making, students are encouraged to engage with music in ways that are accessible, meaningful and enjoyable. The programme creates opportunities for participants to express themselves, develop their creativity, and explore how they can connect with and respond to music.
Spokesperson Sharon Rollston, CEO of Music Network, in welcoming the grant said: “Music Network works to ensure equitable access to, and participation in, live music for people of all ages and in many settings. Through our community programmes, we create opportunities for people to engage with music in ways that really resonate, so they can experience its many creative, social and wellbeing benefits. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do, and our projects are designed to create welcoming spaces where creativity, learning and self-expression can flourish.
We are so grateful for the support of both the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal and Community Foundation Ireland which will help us strengthen and grow our partnership with St. Michael’s House Special Schools, enabling us to bring the joy and transformative power of live music to even more children and young people.”
Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland added: “Being entrusted to turn the €4.3 Million provided by generous RTÉ viewers into actions which deliver benefits for children across Ireland is both a huge honour and responsibility. The Foundation uses insights and knowledge from community partners across the country, best in class research and the insights of top child advocates to inform our decisions. The result is another year when children in every part of our country will benefit.
On behalf of the Community Foundation I want to congratulate everyone who will benefit from the latest grants. We look forward to being updated on your work ahead as we all seek to improve the lives of children and their families. To the viewers who have made all of this possible, Thank You.”
Founded in 2020, the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal has raised over €31 million for children’s charities to date. Each year it is estimated that the Appeal helps more than 1 million children and family members. The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal exists as a Donor Advised Fund with registered charity The Community Foundation for Ireland (Registered Charity Number: 20044886). Grant applications from the 2025 RTÉ Toy Show Appeal were independently assessed following an open application process which opened in early 2026.
