Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE DEPARTMENT OF Education is teaming up with U2 to teach music to children.
The Department will this month begin co-funding Music Generation’s Local Music Education Partnerships, which had been funded by a €5 million donation by U2 and a further €2 million from The Ireland Funds.
In January 2013 the department announced it would begin, from the end of July of this year, the phasing in of its co-funding of Local Music Education Partnerships with a view to these partners completely replacing the original philanthropic donation by 2016.
The €7m donation from U2 (€5m) and The Ireland Funds (€2m) made in 2009 was the largest ever single philanthropic donation to music education in Ireland in the history of the state.
Since its foundation in 2009 the Music Generation programme has established Music Education Partnerships in 12 counties, creating access for up to 18,500 children and young people and providing employment for some 220 musicians.
U2 guitarist The Edge said that the band would not have gotten off the ground if not for a supportive school system.
“I believe it’s a documented fact that exposure to music makes a better society.
“We’re still practicing but we were lucky enough to attend a school with a great music programme and that is why Music Generation is so important to us. We are very proud of its success and the fact that it will continue into the future.”
The new Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan said that her department is committed to music education.
“My Department would like to thank U2 and The Ireland Funds for their philanthropic donation which has seed funded this remarkable initiative, and to also thank the Local Music Education Partnerships who have provided, and will continue to provide, 50% funding to ensure its success into the future.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
And they’re doing it pro-bono.
That decision is being mullened over – it’s on a knife -Edge I’d say -too many drinking Adam’s ale for clarity !
That must be Bono’s house, look how low the ceiling is.
What about U2 Teaming up with the dept of Revenue to see how much tax they owe
i guess they’ll have to face the music sooner or later………………….
Enlighten us linda. How much do they owe?
How about Facebook, EBay, and other multinationals based in Ireland for tax reasons start paying tax in the States and stop employing Irish people.
We can’t have it both ways. It hypocritical to suggest otherwise.
better to have a multi national here employing a few thousand at 12.5% than no multi national here.
In fairness none of us know the goodness that u2 do with their money.
i have no proof but i’m sure that they are very charitable.
considering they are entertainers the law says they don’t pay tax read that somewhere , just like a politician they are entertainers so they don’t pay tax here
..a group of Irishmen (& an Englishman) doing really well for themselves in the entertainment sector.
..Must disassociate, moan & complain, “rabble rabble, rant, groan..”
Great news,
Great to see kids in the regeneration areas of limerick strolling home with their violin, guitar and saxaphone cases in tow.
Music is a language of higher maths. I hope that the students will learn to read music as well, i was a champion tin whistler player but i played by air never got to learn to read music, more is the pity.
Yes it’s proven that people that study violin become above average in mathematical reasoning ability.
Buy a good music app on ur smartphone and it will save on all this Shite
it’s well proven that classical music and high mathematical ability are linked.
I’ve seen this work well in London schools and youth centres, I hope it’s a great success here. I would have been lost in school if it weren’t for playing music.
well hope this will stop some teachers using 20mins from a music class photocopying!! my grandson did music in a certain school and the music teacher spent most of the time at the photocopier, pursing her own drama career, out sick or going on the school tour and left her leaving certs high and dry! maybe the dept of ed could look into the type of teaching that goes on in some schools
Great idea. Sadly, most children are only subjected to generic pop songs which, in my opinion, is not music. A good music programme which exposes children to various genres and musical instruments is beneficial for their creativity and development.
€5m? Ah Jaysus they’re great. Pay yer taxes here ya bunch of spongers!
Spongers are people who live off the system! U2 do not!!
They don’t need to ask the government because they have already helped them selves to €100 million – their dole office is the tax department tax avoidance it’s better than €185 a week lol
It’s great to hear U2 are going to help teach children about music. Just one question. Who’s going to teach U2 about it ?
*someone was going to say it sooner or later*
€5 million is nothing compared to how much they cheated the irish people out of in terms of tax avoidance – personally they live here like the rest of us and they should have paid tax like the rest of us. This is not a considerable donation nor should be applaud them for this, it’s marketing to save their reputation from people who see the wider picture – tax dodgers!
Just your ignorant opinion!
Great idea ,great band, good on them.U2 have always supported music in Ireland and funding projects for up and comming young bands, pay your tax? We owe them a multitude of thanks for the spotlight they have put on the Irish music/culture scene over the years. “Pay your tax” comments from sheep that have no idea what they’re talking about makes me laugh. Respect to the lads, and thanks.
Just don’t let Bono teach them how to write lyrics
11 o clock tick tock, what the fcuk
That should give them the edge they need over foreign school systems.
This is up and running already, we have been taking part in it for the last year, not really news by now.
Guess that comment was too *ahem* Edgy for people to get the joke.
I say we get Lemmy and Ozzy on board with this as well. Children should have a proper choice of musical inspiration.What could possibly go wrong.
They own the stephens green centre.
have your say