There's good news for Irish musicians - especially those in the trad field - as Naul's Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre is set for further expansion.
The Co. Dublin centre has received a substantial new grant of €740,000 under the ACCESS (Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme) programme run by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.
The Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre has recently emerged as an important new venue for Irish music, playing host to both local and international acts.
"Funding is being provided towards the construction of a new performance venue with ancillary rehearsal and classroom facilities," a statement from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism confirmed.
"It is envisaged that this new space will greatly increase the capacity of the venue and will enable the venue accommodate high profile acts."
Total funding of over €10 million has been allocated to 13 major arts and culture projects all over Ireland under the final round of investments in ACCESS II.
Other projects that will benefit from new grants from ACCESS II are the Garage Theatre, Monaghan, which received €2 million in funding, the Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Cork (€1.6m); Ballina Arts Centre, Mayo (€1.2m); Limerick City Gallery of Art (€960,000); Athlone Art Gallery,Westmeath (€650,000), Lathern Municipal Gallery, Nass, Kildare (€580,000) and Artlink, Buncrana, Donegal (€570,000).
Speaking of the scheme, Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Seamus Brennan said: “The ACCESS scheme has been widely recognised as a significant contributor in the provision of high quality arts and culture infrastructure right around the country.
"The investment of almost €43 million of taxpayers' money in improving and expanding facilities under this scheme alone is a strong vote of confidence in the importance of arts and culture in this country. And it strongly behoves those receiving the funding to make it a priority to strive to identify new and imaginative routes to open up opportunities to arts, culture and creativity for many more of our people, regardless of age, social background or nationality."