Music Generation has announced that five new counties – Kerry, Kildare, Longford, Meath and Tipperary – are being added to the national music education programme. This brings the total number of areas to 26.

Each of the five new areas will receive funding to provide affordable music education for children and young people.  The programmes are funded on a 50/50 basis by the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships (a group involving the local ETB (Education and Training Board), local authorities and other partners involved in music education). Overall funding from the Department in 2019 is €3.485 million.

Music Generation was originally co-funded with philanthropic donations from U2 and The Ireland Funds, supported by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, along with funding from local partners. Commenting on the news of the five new areas, U2’s The Edge said:

Every milestone reached on this journey is a source of great pride for the band as well as everyone who has worked so hard to make it happen. With this latest announcement, the finish line is firmly in sight and our dream of an accessible music education for every young person in Ireland is getting ever closer. We are beyond excited.

Music Generation’s first two phases, from 2010 and 2017, saw the programme expand into 20 areas, creating over 48,500 opportunities each year for young musicians to engage with 400 music educators.

Welcoming the news of the additional counties, Minister for Education and Skills Joe Mc Hugh TD said:

Giving our young people access to high-quality musical education is a key element of Creative Youth, part of the Government’s Creative Ireland plan … This is a significant milestone for the organisation in achieving its vision, to enable access to music tuition for all children and young people, regardless of circumstance.

Music Generation was established in 2010 by Music Network. It is expected that the programme will be rolled out throughout the country by 2022. The current list of areas and counties is as follows: Carlow, Cavan/Monaghan, Clare, Cork City, Donegal, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Galway City, Galway County, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick City, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Offaly/Westmeath, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

Arising from the above announcement, there are currently five Music Generation Development Officer positions available. See job details here.