The Blackrock SWAN Music Programme

The Blackrock SWAN Music Programme

April 2017

This term, as part of the first ‘cross-class youth development programme’ to be established in Dublin, seven transition year students performed in the Five Lamps Arts Festival, as part of the Blackrock Swan Music Programme. This weekly programme sees the seven TY students, along with their inner city counterparts, explore issues of class and its effects on young people growing up in Ireland today, through the medium of music and songwriting.

Singing and playing from a barge on the canal, the various cross-class bands performed songs throughout the evening of April 1st, creating a wonderful atmosphere on Charleville Mall which had been closed to traffic and turned into an inner city street festival for the occasion.

They also recently performed their original songs at the Irish Youth Music Awards on 22nd April in Croke Park where they won the award for most collaborative approach to the event.

This ground breaking social initiative has proved a hugely positive experience for all involved, due in no small part to the commitment and dedication shown by Peter Coyle, Tom Dwan, Tadhg Egan, Gavin Jones, Rob Jordan, Thomas McCormack and Ruairi Moore of transition year, as well as all of the participating young people of Swan Youth Service.

Ní neart go cur le chéile.