The Government intends to set up a board to represent the indigenous music sector, the Minister of State for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands has confirmed.
Music industry representatives are being consulted on the precise nature of the proposed board, the Minister of State, Mr Eamon O Cuiv, said when he opened a £2 million audiovisual studio in Spiddal, Co Galway, yesterday. The aim will be to make the most of job potential and nurture this sector of Irish culture, he said. O Cuiv said.
The Saw Doctors, traditional musicians Joe Burke, Johnny O'Leary, Mairead Ni Dhomhnaill, Mary Bergin, and classical musician Jane O'Leary were among the many artists at yesterday's opening in Spiddal. an, while Mr O Cuiv paid a special tribute to the acknowledged father of music in Connemara, whistle player Festy Conlon.
"Aisling gheal" was how Dr Charlie Lennon, director of Cuan Audio Visual, described the centre, which he has set up with his daughter, Eilis, and technical director, Dr Culann Mac Caba.
Mr Padraig O hAolain of Udar as na Gaeltachta - which is supporting the project and has provided the studio overlooking Galway Bay - said the board viewed Cuan as part of a grid of audiovisual facilities in the Connemara area. Cuan has already secured an audio software contract with the National Centre for Popular Music in Sheffield.
The facility currently employs six people full-time. The intention is to provide a range of integrated services to domestic and international media markets - including audio recording, post-production, software development, surround sound, Internet delivery and contract research and development.
