Luke Kelly Bursary offers folk musicians a chance at a main stage festival slot
Attention all folk singers, Dublin City Council has officially opened applications for the Luke Kelly Bursary 2026.
The brand-new initiative aims to support the next generation of singers in the Irish folk tradition. With a chance to perform at the Dublin City Council Luke Kelly Festival in May, win €1,000, and gained dedicated mentorship time with acclaimed Irish folk artist George Murphy, it highlights the legacy of the legendary Dubliner who paved the way for generations of artists .
Whether musicians honed their craft in the corner of a quiet pub or are carefully planning their live debut, this initiative is open to folk artists of all ages who wish to showcase their talent in front of a city-wide audience at Smithfield Square on May 23 and 24.
Dublin City Council Luke Kelly Bursary submissions will be considered across two categories - under 30s and over 30s - with entrants under 18 requiring parental or guardian permission. Six recipients will be selected in total who will perform three songs live on the Main Stage at the festival.
At its heart, The Dublin City Council Luke Kelly Bursary is a platform for new voices which reflect the musical legacy that Luke Kelly defined - singers who understand the weight of a lyric, the power of a stripped-back performance, and the ability of a single voice to hold a crowd.
Welcoming the launch Lord Mayor Ray McAdam said, ”Luke Kelly was one of Dublin’s greatest voices, and it is fitting that our city continues to honour his legacy by backing new and emerging talent in Irish folk music.”
“As Lord Mayor of Dublin, and as a City Councillor for the North Inner City where Luke grew up and where members of his family still reside, I know the pride that his name still inspires in communities across our capital. This bursary reflects the very best of my mayoral theme of Celebrating Dublin by paying tribute to our cultural inheritance while giving a platform to the next generation of artists who will keep that tradition alive.”
Singers are invited to upload a one song video performance for consideration. All submissions will be viewed by leading figures in the Irish music industry, members of the Kelly family and Dublin City Council, who together will choose six standout performers to receive the bursary, which is sponsored by Dublin City Council.
For more information and details on how to upload video submissions see lukekellybursary.ie . Submissions will open on Friday April 17 and close on Sunday May 3 at midnight.
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme