MUSIC Generation Limerick has launched ‘Reach Out’, a project that has three strands: to raise funds for ISPCC ChildLine, connect Limerick musicians across the globe and review Limerick’s musical present and past.
by Eric FitzGerald
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MGLC co-ordinator Boris Hunka says, “Three key projects we had on the boil naturally came together under the theme of reaching out. The ISPCC Childine benefit supports a vital service that reaches out to the most vulnerable; the live linking of the Limerick diaspora reaches out to our musical community across the globe, and the research project for 2016 reaches out and back to our shared musical roots”.
The ‘Reach Out’benefit for ISPCC Childline will feature a unique musical mix including Tommy Drennan, Limerick City Big Band, Windings, Kathleen Turner and the Laurel Hill Coláiste Choir, Naïve Ted, Limerick Voices, Liam O’Brien, the MGLC Band, Your Man’s Puppets plus soloists including Jean McGlynn, Diane Daly, Jean Wallace, Lisa Bresnan and all hosted by Myles Breen.
The event will be streamed to Limerick communities internationally as well as featuring musicians from across the globe performing at the concert via video live-link.
Spot prizes for a raffle on the night have been offered by hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions, as well as a pair of tickets to see the band that launched Music Generation, U2.
Music Generation Limerick City was launched in 2013 to nurture skills and encourage participation, self-expression and inclusion through music.
It is currently working with over 3000 young people in 27 centres across the city. Music Generation was originally set up with €5m funding given by U2 when they played Croke Park 2009, along with a further €2m from The Ireland Funds.
The U2 concerts at the Three Arena in Dublin in November will contribute another €2m to the Music Generation Ireland fund and Minister for Finance Michael Noonan announced a further €1m in funding in the recent Budget for this hugely successful project.
The third aspect of the Reach Out project will see Limerick Musicians spearhead a community auto-ethnographic research project into the Limerick Music Scene as it is today, and as it has been in the last 100 years, stretching back to 1916.
The ‘Reach Out’ benefit for ISPCC Childline will take place at the Millennium Theatre, Moylish on Saturday November 21.
