Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee TD has announced the successful 37 organisations who will receive a grant through the Non-Mainstream Music Education Bursary Scheme 2025.
The Non-Mainstream Music Education Bursary scheme provides a small cash grant to support music education and music initiatives to support and cultivate the talent of young musicians. The organisations, groups and individuals involved provide year-round non-mainstream access to a variety of local music education experiences for young people and children.
Minister McEntee said:
“It is so important that our young people can access opportunities which allow them to express themselves, nurture their creativity and skills and support their wellbeing and ability to make friends. This is why I am delighted to offer this bursary which will help nurture our talented young musicians at a local level and support many wonderful music initiatives across the country.
“I want to acknowledge the commitment of the organisations and the many volunteers who give their time and skills to work with young musicians, providing them with valuable opportunities to explore their full potential.”
Some of the recipients include:
Dublin 2 – Whitefriar Street String Project: Bursary award €10,000
The Whitefriar Street String Project is a string programme for children aged 6-12 years which operates out of the Carmelite Community Centre on Aungier Street, Dublin 2.
Established in 2011, it now caters for 96 students across 1st to 6th classes in a non-mainstream setting outside of school times.
The programme provides free professional string tuition to local children attending local DEIS schools and, in so doing, fosters social inclusion and the integration of local children and families.
The project runs outside of the school curriculum and has reached more than 200 children since its beginnings.
Each year, three participating students are awarded a scholarship to join the Youth Orchestra Programme (www.yops-ireland.com) to further advance instrumental training.
The project intends to purchase instruments with the bursary.
Leitrim – Drumsna Comhaltas: Bursary Award €3,000
Drumsna CCÉ was founded in 1978, with tuition commencing in 2010. Now, approximately 200 students participate each week throughout the year.
The classes were initiated to create a positive, inclusive learning environment for children and young people interested in learning music and song.
In addition to weekly classes, students come together to play music together at events organised by the branch so that they can experience the joy of the shared “language” of music.
Leaders hope to purchase instruments with the bursary funding to enhance their instrument bank and create a loan system for instruments for learners who may not have access to such instruments such as uileann pipes and associated classes.
Kildare – Athy Sing and Sign Club: Bursary Award €2,000
Athy Sing and Sign Club is a community group, established in 2007, that teaches ISL in a fun and friendly environment through music and creativity.
The club provides unique music translation workshops throughout the year for people of all ages from 5 to 75 years who are hearing impaired, deaf or hard of hearing.
Their music programme focuses on making music accessible to the deaf community by translating songs into Irish Sign Language (ISL).
The club currently runs Junior Sign Pals classes for ages 6 to 10 years, as well as Junior Sign Tweens classes for 11- to 13-year-olds and Seniors Sign seniors classes for those aged 14 to 17 years old.
Those involved also provide a special “Sign Able” class for young members with autism and or additional needs.
Their plan is to expand their programme with bursary funding in 2025.
Criteria used for evaluation of applications:
- A well-established track record in music education provision
- Service provision in non-mainstream music education/community music
- Delivery of non-mainstream music education for young people aged 18 years and younger
- Strong learning outcomes for participants
- Preference was also given to those organisations/groups who can demonstrate that they cater for socio-economically disadvantaged groups.
The full list of the 37 successful recipients is provided below.
Full list of recipients:
| Amount | Recipient | County |
| 25,000 | St Agnes CCMA | Dublin |
| 10,000 | Whitefriar Street Sing | Dublin |
| 3,000 | Cahir Comhaltas | Tipperary |
| 3,000 | Diarmuid O Cathain Cultural Centre | Kerry |
| 3,000 | Drumsna Comhaltas Carrick Trad | Leitrim |
| 3,000 | Portalington CCE | Kildare |
| 3,000 | Riverstown CCE | Sligo |
| 3,000 | St Ultans Childcare Project – PRESTO | Dublin |
| 3,000 | Wicklow Miners CCE | Wicklow |
| 2,000 | Anne Devlin CCE | Wicklow |
| 2,000 | Athy Sing and Sign | Kildare |
| 2,000 | Bofield CCE | Mayo |
| 2,000 | Buionn Ceoil Mullachduff (Mullaghduff Band) | Donegal |
| 2,000 | Comhaltas Craobh Fhanada | Donegal |
| 2,000 | Craobh Caiseal Mumhan CCE | Tipperary |
| 2,000 | Craobh Osrai Comhaltas Kilkenny | Kilkenny |
| 2,000 | Dublin Choral Foundation | Dublin |
| 2,000 | Listowel Duagh CCE | Kerry |
| 2,000 | Loughmore CCE | Tipperary |
| 2,000 | Major Minors Junior Orchestra | Wicklow |
| 2,000 | Manorcunningham Pipe Band | Donegal |
| 2,000 | Masamba Youth Project | Dublin |
| 2,000 | Musica Fusion | Cork |
| 2,000 | Sandyford Youth Band | Dublin |
| 2,000 | Tigh na Coille CCE | Clare |
| 1,000 | Bandon Concert Band | Cork |
| 1,000 | Banna Piob Arainn Mhor (Arranmore Pipe Band) | Donegal |
| 1,000 | Cullen Pipe Band | Cork |
| 1,000 | Ennis Brass Band | Clare |
| 1,000 | Naomh Brid Laois | Laois |
| 1,000 | Newmarket-on-Fergus Community Centre Brass Band | Clare |
| 1,000 | Party Community Kids Music Group | Mayo |
| 1,000 | St Carthas Pipe Band | Donegal |
| 1,000 | St Catherine’s Accordion Band | Donegal |
| 1,000 | St Joseph’s Pipe Band | Dublin |
| 1,000 | St Patrick’s Brass Junior Band | Kilkenny |
| 1,000 | Tralee Pipes and Drums (St John’s Pipe Band) |