MUSIC NETWORK, the music development organisation, celebrated its 10th birthday at the weekend with ESB Music Network Music Awareness Day, a series of concerts, master classes, workshops, sessions and musical quizzes. The events took in a range of sounds from traditional and folk to classical, choral, blues and even brass band music.
The weekend's main strand of events took place at Clifden, Co Galway, Tinahely, Co Wicklow, and Cahir, Co Tipperary. In all, there were musical happenings in 66 locations throughout Ireland. Although bad weather kept audience numbers low at some performances on Friday, by the end of the weekend an estimated 2,000 people had performed at, or attended, some portion of the festival.
In Stillorgan the Reykjavik Singing Sisters gave a concert in St Joseph's Church while a woman from Boherbue, Co Cork, organised a "Fantasy Trip in Music" in her home. Also in Boherbue, the sound systems in the local hairdressing salon, supermarket and gift shop were given over to playing classical music. Visitors to Portlaw Community Centre in Co Waterford were offered the opportunity to "Have a Blow" with a hands on tuba session.
Ms Ann Swift, of Music Network, said that response to the initiative had been "extremely positive" and described it as "very successful". She added, however, that a full assessment of the weekend's events would have to take place before any decision could be made on making Music Awareness Day an annual occasion.