U2 funded Music Generation opens its first 'Creative Centre' in Limerick

Music Generation Limerick City (MGLC) has opened a new ‘Creative Centre’ – the first of its kind to come out of the national music programme instigated by U2.

Music Generation is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, The Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships.

The new centre, at the heart of Limerick City, will act as a base for MGLC’s range of after school and weekend sessions. These sessions will focus on self-expression, creativity and inclusion and are run by a team comprising many of Limerick’s most exciting performers, including members of Windings, the Rusangano family, Naïve Ted and more.

The mix of songwriting, production, rap and band mentoring will be in particular be aimed at teens-
an age-group that statistically drop out of conventional music education.

Boris Hunka, co-ordinator of Music Generation Limerick City explains how this is achieved.

“Our methodology is quite simple, creating a safe space for people to be creative and try things out. It works for national school children, it works for teenagers, and now we’re seeing it work with adults”.

In 2009 U2 and The Ireland Funds gifted a €7m philanthropic donation to music education in Ireland.

Bono explained the idea behind the donation saying, "What we want to do is really simple. We just want to make sure that everyone, whatever their background, gets access to music tuition. That’s the idea.”

The centre will also act as an informal venue, and will host a range of other arts organisations in the city, as part of the Creative Exchange model pioneered by the Limerick 2020 City of Culture bid.

To find out more about Music Generation Limerick City click here.