Eight folk artists receive €1000 bursary in honour of Luke Kelly
Eight emerging Irish folk musicians have received a bursary of €1000 from Dublin City Council (DCC).
The inaugural Luke Kelly Bursary is an initiative by the council to identify new talent across the country who “carry forward” the storytelling and musical tradition of Irish folk music.
The eight artists will also receive mentorship and be able to perform at the Luke Kelly Festival which will be held later this month.
“This year, my theme as Lord Mayor is Celebrating Dublin. That means celebrating Dubliners who have shaped our city, lifted our spirits and carried our stories far beyond our shores.,” said Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam.
“Luke Kelly did that in a way few others ever have. His voice, his music and his social conscience remain part of the soul of Dublin. But celebrating Dublin also means celebrating the next generation.
“These bursary winners are carrying that spirit forward through song, storytelling, authenticity and heart. DCC is proud to support them with a bursary, mentorship and a platform at the Luke Kelly Festival in Smithfield.”
Recipients were selected by a judging panel made up of Paula McCann, niece of Luke Kelly, on behalf of the family, members of DCC and journalist Leagues O'Toole and his music promoting platform Foggy Notions.
DCC said the recipients span generations with artists as young as ten and some in their twenties and forties and forties.
The youngest include 10-year-old Johnny Joyce, who attends Mullingar Educate Together National School, and 13-year-old Julia McCarthy Dillon, from Mountmellick Community School and 19-year-old Daniel Doherty Ashbourne from Meath.
Other artists include including musician Jack Nico from Finglas, Jacqui Ní Fhaoláin from Wicklow – who studied Modern Irish and Music at Trinity College Dublin and Christina Collins from West Cork.
It also includes primary teacher from Marino, Dublin, Aoife Maguire and David Harris from Blessington, Wicklow.
Although initially intended only to support six artists, the bursary was expanded to eight after a strong number of submissions were received by the council.
Earlier this month, the artists were part of a mentorship programme with Dublin-based musician George Murphy at Troubadour Studios in Fairview. On May 23 and 24, they will perform live at DCC’s Luke Kelly Festival in Smithfield Square.