Good news for budding artists in Ireland today as the Recorded Artists Actors and Performers (RAAP) organisation and RTÉ Radio announced an extension of the deadline for application for the second RAAP RTÉ Radio Breakthrough Bursary 2012.

Everyone now has until 4pm on Thursday, August 16 to submit an entry. The competition offers €24,500 in prize money to winners, who also get guaranteed air play on prime time radio across RTÉ’s four national FM stations: RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ lyric fm and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
 
The competition is divided into four categories, encompassing all musical genres. The winners of each category will receive €5,000. Nine runner-up prizes of €500 will also be awarded.
 
Submissions will be judged by a music industry panel:

Mary Black, Fiachna Ó Braonáin (Hothouse Flowers), Niall Byrne (Nialler9.com) Ciarán Tourish (Altan), Richie Buckley, Priscilla Kotey (Warner Music), Paul Walsh (RoySeven), Cormac Battle, Jenny Huston, Rick O’Shea, Cathal Murray, Jacqui Carroll, Liz Nolan, Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha, Seán Ó hÉanaigh, Gerry O’Connor, Eamonn Lenihan, Niall Carroll, Liz Nolan, Wendy Vard and Gail Henry.
 
A shortlist of each category will be released on September 13, with the ultimate winners being announced at a special gala concert on September 20.

Last year’s winners were The Fallen Drakes (Rock/Pop/Dance category); Sharon Carty (Classical/Jazz category); FullSet (Traditional Irish/Folk category); and Alice Jago (Country/Roots/Bluegrass category). 

Full details of how to enter, terms and conditions and more.

Twitter hashtag is #BreakthroughBursary

See last year's Country/Roots/Bluegrass winner, Alice Jago, playing 'Cotton On Girl' live in the RTE Radio Centre during the RTE Big Music Week: