Why Music Generation matters

Rosaleen Molloy, National Director of Music Generation, celebrates Ireland's National Music Education Programme, and their ongoing mission to enable access to music tuition for all young people in Ireland

The mission of Music Generation is to enable access to music tuition for all young people in Ireland – since its foundation has built a sustainable infrastructure to scale this nationally by working with philanthropic community and Government.

As National Director of Music Generation, it has been my honour to work to enable and facilitate access to performance music education for young people across Ireland since the organisation was established twelve years ago.

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Watch: Music Generation Galway launch The Gaillimh Instrument Bank

We recently celebrated our impact with the wider philanthropic community at The Ireland Funds' worldwide conference in Killarney, at an event attended by Adam Clayton of U2, Sharon Shannon and young people from Music Generation Waterford and Music Generation Laois.

In Ireland, while we have a rich and proud tradition of music; unfortunately there are many barriers for children and young people accessing music tuition due to reasons including geographic and financial.

This is why Music Generation was established – to ensure that any young person across the country, no matter where they live or their background, can pursue a passion for performing music if they want to.

Co-funded by The Ireland Funds, U2, the Department of Education and Local Music Education partnerships in which Education and Training Boards and Local Authorities play a lead role, Music Generation has built a sustainable, nationwide framework which has created countless inspiring experiences for young people through music.

With programmes beginning in just three counties, we have grown sustainably to achieve a national reach and now have a presence in 29 towns and cities across 26 counties.

This growth has only been possible through our work with our philanthropic partners, including The Ireland Funds, as well as all of our stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

Watch: One hundred and eighty-one Music Generation musicians take to the stage to showcase their take on traditional Irish music to an international audience at St. Patrick's Festival 2022.

We have delivered over 490,000 hours of music tuition and have grown from a staff of one to 442 employees nationwide. The number of young people who have gained access to music tuition through our programmes has grown commensurately – beginning with just 6,481 programme participants in 2012 to almost 80,000 young people who took part in Music Generation last year.

However, the numbers only tell part of the story. To get a real sense of our impact, you need to learn more about some of the young people we’ve been lucky enough to engage with over the years.

Watch: How Music Generation played through the pandemic

They include musicians like Amy O’Callaghan, a cornet player from Music Generation Cork City, who has had opportunities to play for The President of Ireland and on The Late Late Toy Show.

The post-rock band Nerves, who met through Music Generation Mayo, is another example of Music Generation participants who have achieved their dream of playing music professionally.

For many young people who take part in Music Generation programmes, the value of having a space to express themselves, form friendships and have fun making music is immeasurable.

I believe we’ve made tremendous strides in helping Ireland’s children and young people to take part in performance music, which is a joyful experience that continues to enrich lives.

Rosaleen Molloy (second from the left) with Caitriona Fottrell, CEO and President of
The Ireland Funds (centre) and Adam Clayton from U2 (second from the right),
with members of Music Generation Waterford and Music Generation Laois
at the recent Ireland Funds Worldwide Conference in Killarney.

Participants in Music Generation have been able to take part in some amazing experiences over the years, including performing for U2’s The Edge in the Sistine Chapel and in front of the United Nations in New York.

I would like to thank all of our valued local, national and international partners for helping to celebrate at the recent Ireland Funds worldwide conference, all that we’ve accomplished over these past twelve years.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about Music Generation can do so via our website.

Why Music Generation matters

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