U2 Donation To Music Generation Spurs Added Ireland Fund Support

Music Generation, Ireland’s national music education programme, is on course for further expansion, following the announcement by U2 and The Ireland Funds of major philanthropic donations of €2million and €1million respectively to the organisation, a statement issued today confirms.

In September of this year, U2 announced that €2million from their Irish concerts would be gifted to Music Generation, which provides access to high quality subsidised music tuition for thousands of children and young people across the country. A further €1million will be gifted by The Ireland Funds who, together with U2, seed-funded Music Generation’s first phase (2010 – 2015) with a €7m donation – the largest ever philanthropic donation to music education in Ireland in the history of the state.

“Five years in, Music Generation is continuing to grow,” U2 guitarist Edge said. "Thanks to The Ireland Funds for adding €1m to the €2m from our Irish shows. It'll bring us closer to achieving our ambition for every child and young person in Ireland to have access to music tuition.”

Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO, The Worldwide Ireland Funds is an enthusiastic supporter of the initiative. “We are thrilled to announce this additional gift of €1m to Music Generation,” he stated. "The impact of this innovative music education programme has been extraordinary and brings so much benefit to young people and communities throughout Ireland. The Ireland Funds is delighted to be supporting this flagship initiative and, together with U2, will also seek to raise additional support, as part of our commitment to unlocking the musical talents of the next generation.”

Responding to this latest, unprecedented gift to music education in Ireland, Rosaleen Molloy, National Director of Music Generation emphasised that Music Generation would not exist without the vision and philanthropic support of U2 and The Ireland Funds. "It is this vision," Rosaleen added, "that has enabled us to successfully implement this ground-breaking music education programme across 12 areas of the country, which now provides access for some 26,000 children and young people and creates employment opportunities some 330 people.

“The reason why Music Generation has been such a success story is because of the partnership base that underpins how we work”, Rosaleen explained. “U2, The Ireland Funds, with the support of Bank of America, Music Network, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships – together with the Arts Council and St. Patrick’s College Drumcondra – are our key partners.

"The impact of the original €7m philanthropic donation from U2 and The Ireland Funds has been extraordinary. Every day, the lives of thousands of children and young people are being transformed through access to a variety of music tuition opportunities – everything from song-writing initiatives to brass bands, orchestras, choirs, rock groups, rap projects, grupaí cheoil and composers clubs. The original donation has seed-funded development and generated ongoing sustained 50/50 investment from the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships.”

Music Network established Music Generation in 2010, following a €7m donation from U2 (€5m) and The Ireland Funds (€2m) to implement itsnational strategy for music education in Ireland.