Music Generation is coming to Fingal!

There was great news for young Fingal musicians following an exciting recent announcement about music in the county.

That’s because Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board has partnered with Fingal County Council and Music Generation to improve music education opportunities available to children and young people in the county.

Fingal is the latest area to commence participation in Music Generation, Ireland’s national music education programme which strives to transform children and young people’s lives by giving them opportunities to create, play and perform music in their own communities.

‘Music Generation Fingal’ will be established as part of the programme’s journey towards nationwide expansion, meaning that ultimately children and young people in every city and county in Ireland will have access to high-quality, subsidised performance music education.

Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board and Fingal County Council serve Fingal’s youth population through their respective education services and over the coming years Music Generation Fingal will enrich these services by offering new opportunities for children and young people to participate in dynamic and diverse performance music education programmes.

Planning for the roll-out of Music Generation Fingal is underway.

The next immediate step is to recruit a new Music Generation Development Officer with specific expertise to oversee programme development.

Advertisements for the role are now live on the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) website (www.ddletb.ie) and Fingal County Council (FCC) Arts Office website (www.fingalarts.ie)

Initiated by Music Network in 2010, Music Generation is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education, and Local Music Education Partnerships (LMEPs). Locally, Music Generation Fingal will be led by DDLETB in partnership with FCC and local youth education services.

Its formation in Fingal follows a commitment by DDLETB and FCC to provide quality arts and cultural experiences and a commitment by Government in 2017 to support the nationwide roll-out of Music Generation as part of ‘Creative Youth’ – a Creative Ireland plan to enable the creative potential of every child and young person.

Commenting on the programme, Caitriona Murphy, CEO of DDLETB said: “We are delighted to be the lead partner on such an exciting venture with Music Generation and Fingal County Council.

We look forward to working collaboratively with all partners to implement this wonderful programme as we open the door to performance music education for our children and young people.”

The Mayor of Fingal County Council, Councillor David Healy, said: “This signals a new era for music education in Fingal and is much needed following the challenging year children, young people and musicians have experienced. Providing access to high quality music education in underserved communities is imperative as we strive to embed the arts in our everyday life. We look forward to a bright and musical future in Fingal.”

The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “Following a year of research and development Fingal are delighted to publicly announce this unique and meaningful initiative that is set to enhance the lives of many children and young people in the county. It builds on all that we in Fingal have achieved to date and provides new opportunities to grow Fingal’s cultural capacity by ensuring access to quality music education for Fingal’s youth, and by retaining and attracting music practitioners to live and work in the county.”

Since its establishment in 2010, Music Generation has grown to reach 25 areas of Ireland. Currently it creates some 67,000 opportunities annually for children and young people to access music tuition, and 400 employment opportunities for skilled musician educators. Since March 2020, Music Generation programmes nationwide have been adapting and innovating to find safe, inspiring ways to connect with children and young people through music, on and offline.

Rosaleen Molloy, National Director of Music Generation, said: “Fingal has demonstrated enormous ambition and great commitment in setting out its vision for performance music education in local communities. I’m thrilled that Fingal will now be joining Music Generation, and I’m looking forward to working with all partners to realise their vision, which will bring about truly transformative outcomes for the county’s next musical generation.”