Sir, - I was taken by a suggestion by Dr Eibhlis Farrell reported in your article on music education (January 16th) that "each county should have a custom-built music centre and a government-funded music teaching service to provide access for all". A potential model for such a venture already exists in Ennis, Co Clare: Maoin Cheoil an Chlair, set up through Rural Resources Development (Shannon) and officially opened by President Robinson in 1994.
With a twin-track curriculum of classical and traditional music on offer, the school has active support from Ennis Urban District Council, Clare County Council and the Clare Vocational Education Committee. Community groups such as Comhaltas Cheoltoiri Eireann, the Willy Clancy Week and classical music education interests work hand in hand in the running of the school. The school is also poised to link creatively with the new International Folk Music Centre currently being set up in Ennis to serve the growing needs of cultural tourism as well as with many other excellent local, national and European music education initiatives.
A network of such schools across Ireland would make significant inroads into broadening access to music education, combating issues related to elitism in the music education system, as well as providing a model for similar needs across the European Community - especially in those regions fortunate enough to have retained strong indigenous music traditions. - Yours, etc.,
Micheal O Suilleabhain, Professor of Music, University of Limerick.