Music Generation is Ireland’s national music education programme. It’s co-funded by U2 and the Ireland Funds and initiated by Music Network. Its aim is to help as many children and young people as possible to access high quality music education in their local area.”

As National Director of Music Generation, Rosaleen Molloy has the facts at her fingertips. Rosaleen has overseen the development of the Music Generation programme since 2010, shortly after the donations from U2 and the Ireland Funds were officially announced. She is clearly proud of what has been achieved in the interim.
To kick things off, U2 contributed 5 million euro – the profit from their three Croke Park gigs on the 360º Tour – and the Ireland Funds threw another two into the pot.
“Without their goodwill this wouldn’t be happening,” Rosaleen declares. “The framework for the initiative was developed by Music Network as far back as 2003. But nothing was happening with it untiil U2 and The Ireland Funds intervened. Music Generation is a philanthropically-driven initiative. The donations total €7 million. That money has enabled the implementation of a national system of music education services.”
Over the past 18 months there have been significant developments around the country. The initiative is working: Music Generation is now established in Carlow, Cork City, Louth, Laois, Mayo, Sligo, Offaly, Westmeath and Wicklow.
“So far 5,000 children and young people have participated in the programme,” she explains, “and employment opportunities have been created for more than 120 musicians, who deliver the tuition. The original estimate of 10,000 participants will certainly be exceeded over the first five years of the programme.”
Edge, who attended a photo call to draw attention to the initiative recently, agrees.
“The great thing about this initiative,” he says, “is that it’s really putting music back where it should be, at the top of the priorities around the country. And so far its been a huge success with 5,000 students and young people getting classes. It’s rolled out in ten projects around the country – but we’re ambitious. We want it to be in every county. So within a few years that’s the aim, that every county in the country will have a programme.”
Edge underlines the importance of exposing young people to music at an early age.
“We had it ourselves at our school from first year onwards,” he said, “and we also had the encouragement to use the music rooms when we first formed the band. At that stage, none of the members of the band had any idea where it would lead. We were doing it just because it was fun. And so the chance to pass that opportunity on is important.”
The strategy had always been to develop a partnership with the Department of Education and Skills. That too is on track. The Minister, Ruairí Quinn, recently announced that the government will continue to fund and support Music Generation after the pilot phase concludes in 2015.
“There’s so much energy and talent there,” Ruairi Quinn reflects. “It’s one of the reasons why I’m reforming the Junior Certificate curriculum, and getting rid of the exam – to capture and celebrate the multiple talents of young people. It’s not just what you put down in a written examination that measures what you’re capable of doing. There are so many different ways of being good at school that aren’t being captured – including music. And the energy it unlocks, not just with the students, but with their teachers and with their parents, it’s quite phenomenal.”
Rosaleen also stresses the importance of the part that local education partnerships have played in the programme.
“They comprise of VECs, local authorities, county childcare committees, primary schools, private music schools, arts centres, festivals and parents,” she says. “These collective bodies plan a strategic approach to how music education should be developed in their area. These Music Education Partnerships then make a bid to Music Generation for funding. They provide 50% of the funding – and we provide the rest, up to a maximum of €200,000 a year for a three-year period.”
So far ten areas have been successful in their applications, but more will follow. Rosaleen reveals that Music Generation received applications from well over 75% of the country.
“When we were planning all of this,” she says, “we had to decide whether we would give a small amount to all of the country, or give a meaningful amount of money to some – on the basis of a competitive application – and that way, make a real difference.
“Our vision,” she concludes, “is that every child and young person in Ireland will have equal access to music, irrespective of whatever their circumstance is.”

See musicgeneration.ie and @mus_gen