REHEARSAL ROOM OPENS AT C.R.I.B. PROJECT AS MUSIC GENERATION SLIGO CONTINUES TO OPEN DOORS TO YOUNG PEOPLE

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A fully equipped rehearsal room for aspiring young musicians has opened at Foróiges' HSE funded, Diocean supported C.R.I.B. Youth Project and Health Cafe on Rockwood Parade Sligo, thanks to the generosity of U2 and the Ireland Funds which is lead funder of Music Generation Sligo (MGS).

Music Generation heavyweights including board member and composer/producer Bill Whelan and his colleague, Lyric FM presenter Ellen Cranitch travelled to Sligo for the official opening of one of five such rehearsal spaces  planned for the county. A similar facility has also opened at the Coleman Centre, in Gurteen and three others planned for the county.

As MGS continues its drive to give 16,500 children and teenagers from Co Sligo access to music, the board members also visited the Sandcastles Childcare Centre in Easkey, where dozens of tiny tots and their parents/guardians are availing of the Discovering Music programme.

Older children, including some with plans to form a band, as well as would be composers,  will have access to state of the art facilities including a drum kit (with cymbals), acoustic, electric  and bass guitars, guitar amp, and leads,  digital piano, speakers,  mic and stands at the C.R.I.B. .

 Rosaleen Molloy, National Director, Music Generation welcomed the development.  "Music Generation's donors - U2 and The Ireland Funds - together with the Board of Music Generation are delighted with the progress of Music Generation Sligo. The ambitious plans for the future of music education in the county are driven by Sligo Music Education Partnership's commitment to quality and excellence,” she stressed. Ms Molloy praised County Sligo VEC, Sligo County Council and other local partners for their pro-active investment in music education.

She added: “We are thrilled to see how the programme is developing led by some of the county's finest musicians under the superb direction of

Coordinator Jessica Fuller.  Our shared vision is for every child and

young person to have access to music education and undoubtedly, exciting times lie ahead for children and young people in County Sligo!"

Anne Marie Regan, Foróiges'  Project leader in Sligo/Leitrim  said the partnership with MGS would  provide an amazing opportunity for young people who love, play and want to practice, develop skills and experience any type of music.

 "The positive benefits of playing and being part of music must not be under-estimated,” she stressed. “Music forms a very important element of youth culture and whether it helps a young person through a tough time, or makes them feel part of something, it will build   confidence and make participants feel connected with their peers”. 

She said the project would complement the overall purpose of C.R.I.B. which aims to enable young people develop increased self-confidence, self-reliance and a greater capacity to take charge of their lives.

Music Generation Sligo is being developed in partnership with public and private music  education providers in the county and regionally,including the VEC, Sligo County Council, Sligo Education Centre, Sligo County Childcare Committee, the Department of Environment, Communnity & Local government and is based at Sligo VEC. 

Music Generation is Ireland's National Music Education programme, initiated by Music Network and enabled by a €7m philanthropic donation - €5m from U2 and a further €2m which is currently being raised by The Ireland Funds.

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