IN PICTURES: Laois music project catapulting young talent

The Music-rich Schools programme targets DEIS schools in Laois to ensure that every child has access to performance music education, without barriers of cost, including instruments and high-quality tuition, and inspirational programming of additional music events, such as workshops and performances.

Scoil Bhride in Mountrath is the latest school to sign up to the programme  initiated by Music Generation Laois in 2016 at Scoil Bhríde NS, Knockmay, Portlaoise. To see more photos from mountrath taken by Alf Harvey tap NEXT or ARROW - to READ more about the initiative see below picture.

Providing access to performance music education programmes in DEIS schools ensures that children who do not have family supports or means to enable them to participate in music, have free access in their local school. This programme aims to increase confidence in young musicians, to provide equal opportunity, by giving access to workshops with experienced musicians, and quality musical instruments.

Currently the Music-rich schools project in Laois is operating in Mountmellick Girls National School, Mountmellick Boy's National School, and Scoil Bhríde NS, Knockmay, Portlaoise, with Scoil Bhríde NS, Mountrath joining the programme in September 2022.

Muireann Ní Chonaill is Creative Ireland Coordinator and the Laois Arts Officer.

“We’re delighted that the Creative Ireland programme in Laois is supporting the talents of young people and providing opportunities to take part in Music Generation Laois’s Music-rich Schools project which has engaged with hundreds of primary school children in Laois in 2022.

“We are very fortunate as a county to have a Music Generation programme and Laois School of Music based at Laois Music Centre, Portlaoise. The benefits of music education are immense and highly beneficial to young people. Music positively impacts a child’s academic performance, assists in developing social skills, and provides an outlet for creativity that is crucial to a child’s development. Music education catapults a child’s learning to new heights, and because of this, it should always be considered a pivotal part of a child’s educational process,” she said.

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The Music-rich Schools project has been supported by Creative Ireland, as part of the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with Laois County. Music Generation Laois is part of Music Generation – Ireland’s National Music Education Programme. Music Generation Laois is part of Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (lead partner) and supported by Laois County Council.