"I would like to sincerely thank Music Network for managing the Music Capital Scheme once again. This funding allows so many deserving organisations and individuals to receive the support they need to purchase musical instruments and, as a former music teacher, that is such a wonderful thing to be a part of." Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD
Music Network has announced the results of the latest round of the Music Capital Scheme. A total of €349,150 in funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has been granted to 76 awardees which will potentially benefit over 5,000 musicians based throughout Ireland.
Since it was established 15 years ago, the Music Capital Scheme has:
- Made 544 awards to individual musicians and organisations
- Provided access to musical instruments for over 51,000 people
Established in 2008, the Music Capital Scheme is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media 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, performing in genres including traditional Irish, classical, folk, jazz, electro-acoustic, rock and pop.
Commenting on the initiative, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD said: “I would like to sincerely thank Music Network for managing the Music Capital Scheme once again. This funding allows so many deserving organisations and individuals to receive the support they need to purchase musical instruments and, as a former music teacher, that is such a wonderful thing to be a part of.
Prioritisation was established in the previous round of funding for organisations working with older musicians and musicians with disabilities, and I am very happy to see this priority has been retained. These organisations include resource organisations and music schools offering inclusive music classes, and choral and instrumental groups with a wide age-range among their membership. The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation and Ceolan Community Group are just 2 of the organisations that received prioritisation on this occasion.
Since its inception 15 years ago, this capital scheme is one of my Department’s key funding initiatives and I am so happy that we are once again in a position to financially support the scheme. Good quality musical instruments are so important to individual musicians and to musical groups, and I have no doubt the benefits of the Musical Capital Scheme funding to the 26 non-professional performing groups and 50 individual musicians based throughout Ireland will be felt for many years to come.”
Music Network’s CEO Sharon Rollston commented: “Since establishing The Music Capital Scheme together with The Arts Council 15 years ago, we have made 544 awards to individual musicians and organisations, providing access to musical instruments for over 51,000 people.
Our mission is to make high quality live music accessible to communities throughout Ireland, and to support professional musicians to excel in the performance and creation of music. 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.
We’re very grateful for the continued support of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in funding this valuable resource for the music sector.”
The Scheme provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments across three categories - Award 1 provides funding to non-professional music and community groups, Award 2 is for established professional musicians while Award 3 supports emerging professional musicians.
Award 1
In Award 1, funding was awarded across the non-professional music sector, providing a range of community and music groups with financial support.
In total 26 concert/marching/pipe bands, orchestras, samba bands and other music organisations were awarded a total of €175,000 for the purchase of musical instruments across a wide range of genres including Irish Traditional, Classical, Rock, Early Music/Baroque, Popular, Musical Theatre, Jazz and Contemporary.
Organisation | Award |
An Táin Arts Centre | €10,675 |
Artane School of Music | €17,538 |
Bandon Concert Band | €2,175 |
Blanchardstown Brass Band | €12,000 |
Buíon Cheoil Rann na Feirste | €3,802 |
CCÉ Gorey/Ballygarrett | €11,542 |
Ceolan Community Group | €5,850 |
Coole Music & Arts | €3,524 |
Credo Vocal Ensemble | €837 |
Danescastle Music Group | €2,412 |
Finglas Youth Resource Centre CLG | €1,247 |
Howth Gospel Choir | €644 |
Irish Association of Youth Orchestras CLG | €7,500 |
Irish Chamber Orchestra - Sing Out with Strings | €14,520 |
Irish Institute of Music and Song | €18,437 |
Kilmessan Choir | €600 |
Limerick School of Music | €10,470 |
Masamba Samba School Social Economy Programme CLG | €3,626 |
Na Píobairí Uilleann | €10,500 |
Northside Family Resource Centre | €3,803 |
Raphoe Ulster-Scots Pipe Band | €8,474 |
Redemptorist Centre of Music | €12,355 |
The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation | €2,622 |
The Conwal Singers | €524 |
Ukulele Sligo | €903 |
YMCA | €8,420 |
Award 2
In Award 2, funds of €114,150 were awarded to 26 established musicians performing at a professional level to assist with the purchase of musical instruments and equipment across genres including Classical, Early Music/Baroque, Electro-acoustic, Irish Traditional, Folk, Pop Rock and Jazz/Improvised.
Awarded musician | Item funded | Award | |
James Blennerhassett | Double bass | €2,500 | |
Kevin Brady | Drum kit | €548 | |
Luke Coffey | 5-string banjo | €2,700 | |
Éimhín Cradock | Drum kit | €1,850 | |
Diane Daly | Violin | €20,000 | |
Tom Delany | Uilleann pipes in Bb | €4,900 | |
Cillian Doheny | Octave mandolin | €3,373 | |
Aisling Drost | Fiddle bow | €467 | |
David Duffy | Double bass | €3,750 | |
Christopher Ellis | Cello bow & cello case | €3,770 | |
Aisling Ennis | Irish harp | €3,250 | |
Daithí Gormley | Button accordion | €2,750 | |
Donogh Hennessy | Acoustic guitar | €1,880 | |
Caroline Keane | C#/G# Anglo concertina | €4,836 | |
Jos Kelly | Synthesiser | €999 | |
Ted Kelly | Tenor banjo | €2,134 | |
Callum McAdam | Drum kit & sampling pad | €990 | |
Richey McCourt | Electric guitar | €534 | |
Carol McGonnell | Basset clarinet | €9,520 | |
Mark Anthony McGrath | Classical guitar | €2,000 | |
Orlando Molina | Electric guitar | €3,599 | |
Aoife Ní Bhriain | Violin bow | €7,950 | |
Brian O'Kane | Cello bow | €2,850 | |
David Redmond | Double bass | €10,000 | |
Mark Redmond | Uilleann pipes in D | €7,000 | |
Yue Tang | Cello bow | €10,000 | |
Award 3
In Award 3, funds of €60,000 were awarded to 24 individual emerging professional performing musicians to assist in the purchase of musical instruments and equipment across the Classical, Electronic, Folk, Pop, Rock, Irish Traditional and Jazz/ Improvised music genres.
Awarded musician | Item funded | Award |
Dave Clancy | Acoustic guitar | €1,850 |
Diarmuid Comerford | Electric guitar | €1,125 |
Grace Coughlan | Cello | €10,500 |
Fiachra de hOra | Viola | €12,915 |
Cathal Dervan | Piano accordion | €2,670 |
Brian Francis Devaney | Bodhrán | €225 |
Lorcan Falls | Guitar effects processor | €734 |
Ben Gannon | Oboe | €7,405 |
Thomas Garnett | Synthesiser | €1,329 |
James Geraghty | Guitar amplifier | €774 |
Aidan Gray | Bass guitar | €1,587 |
Andrew Killian | Cymbals | €445 |
Conor Kinsella | Microphone bundle | €222 |
Fionnán Mac Gabhann | Uilleann pipes in B | €6,250 |
Ryan Macfarlane | Synthesiser | €981 |
Thomas McConville | Midi controller | €349 |
Darragh McDonald | Acoustic guitar | €650 |
Diarmaid Murphy | Irish flute | €1,963 |
Martina Rosaria O'Connell | Piccolo | €3,450 |
Iarla O'Connor | Bass guitar | €750 |
Jenna Raggett | Baroque violin | €2,287 |
Jamie Toomey | Upgrade of electronics system in guitar | €182 |
Brandon Watson | 5-string banjo | €1,174 |
Jill Woodnut | Drum machine | €183 |
For further information on the Music Capital Scheme, please contact Sarah Cunningham, Music Capital Scheme Administrator, Music Network, capitalscheme@musicnetwork.ie, tel. 083 0955 956.
Award 1
Available Award Fund €175,000
The Music Capital Scheme Award 1 panel discussion took place on 22 May 2023. 26 organisations were awarded funding. The scoring panellists were:
1. Deirdre Moynihan, Head of Programmes, Music Network
2. Esosa Ighodaro, Independent Panellist
3. Tom Morrow, Independent Panellist
4. Anne-Marie O’Farrell, Independent Panellist
5. Brian Prendergast, Independent Panellist
Award 2
Available Award Fund: €115,000
The Music Capital Scheme Award 2 panel discussion took place on 1 June 2023. 26 musicians were awarded funding. The scoring panellists were:
1. Deirdre Moynihan, Head of Programmes, Music Network
2. Zoë Conway, Independent Panellist
3. Seamus Crimmins, Independent Panellist
4. Greg Felton, Independent Panellist
5. Dave Hingerty, Independent Panellist
Award 3
Available Award Fund: €60,000
The Music Capital Scheme Award 3 panel discussion took place on 23 May 2023. 24 musicians were awarded funding. The scoring panellists were:
1. Deirdre Moynihan, Head of Programmes, Music Network
2. Ceara Conway, Independent Panellist
3. Greg Felton, Independent Panellist
4. Andrew Johnstone, Independent Panellist
5. Sunil Sharpe, Independent Panellist