Gaillimh Drum Programme is a county-wide drum programme offering all age groups, children, young people and adults access to a bank of percussion instruments within community and educational settings. The instruments were originally purchased by Galway 2020 and are now managed by Music Generation in Galway.
To celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg on June 10th, with support from The Creative Ireland Programme, the drums will be used as part of workshops with children and young people in Connemara. Eric Cunningham, Music Development Officer with Music Generation manages the instrument bank. “We are delighted to have been given access to this instrument bank and we are putting it to great use. We manage the instruments and utilise them within a variety of contexts. As they are to be shared amongst groups into the future, we have not given them to any one organisation long-term, instead we engage with a variety of organisations on an ongoing basis and work to put them to best use for a particular period for example a one day workshop or a 6 week programme etc.”
Gaillimh Drum Programme has been made possible by project partners Galway Culture Company, The Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB), GRETB’s Community Education Programme and Music Generation.
The drum programme, known as PULSE, will be offered to adults and groups attached to communities in Tuam, Clifden, Spiddal, Ballinasloe, Portumna and Athenry initially and later will be broadened to include groups in other communities. It will also be delivered to children and young people in educational settings, at festivals and at Music Generation’s Music Hubs at a variety of locations throughout the county.
This project is funded by Galway Culture Company and falls under the Company’s second and third strategic aims; to support and develop place-based cultural programming and to provide supports to the cultural and creative sector.
For more information or to request use of the instruments please email Eric at eric.cunningham@gretb.ie
About Music Generation
Initiated by Music Network, Music Generation is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Local Music Education Partnerships (LMEPs). Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) together with Galway County Council are lead funding partners of Music Generation Galway County. Additional support is provided by a number of other county-based partners.
