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Youth Theatre Grant Scheme open for applications
Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) at Kerry ETB has announced a fund to support the development of youth theatres across the county.
Applications from not-for-profit organisations are welcome by close of business on January 11. Funding youth theatre development is a priority for the offices of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB and the Arts Office at Kerry County Council in 2023.
The fund has come about as a result of a partnership between the LCYP and the Arts Office at Kerry County Council. This partnership is aimed at increasing the number of youth theatres active in the county by underpinning their development with funding and know-how.
“This year LCYP and the Arts Office at Kerry County Council supported the development of three youth theatres in Kerry, one in South Kerry, one in West Kerry and one in North Kerry to the value of €22,000 in total,” Deirdre Enright, the Creative Youth Co-Ordinator at Kerry ETB, said.
“The fund supports the administration, management and the creative facilitation costs for each youth theatre, and encourages youth theatres to be ambitious and exciting to teenagers. Supported youth theatres must ensure diversity and that there is a strong sense of inclusion for their members.”
Youth Theatre is a proven youth work discipline and an exciting creative space for young people to join. The mission in Kerry is to ensure an accessible youth theatre is available to any young person who wants to join one, and that the nearest youth theatre is no more than a 45 minute drive from anyone’s home, no matter where in Kerry a person lives.
“We are delighted that over 30 young people from all sorts of backgrounds have found a great sense of belonging in local youth theatres this year. It is a highly creative space, and not just for those who love acting…writing, sound, production, costume, all of these are aspects but even more important is the time and friendships that young people get to enjoy outside of the formal school environment," Kate Kennelly, Arts Office and Creative Ireland Kerry Co-Ordinator at Kerry County Council, said.
Kerry’s strategy is unique in Ireland and supporting its delivery is Youth Theatre Ireland, the national support agency for youth theatre in the country.
“Youth Theatre Ireland has worked closely with LCYP and Kerry County Council over several years to support the training and development of local youth theatre facilitators. Having skilled, local facilitators in place is the lifeblood of sustainable youth theatre practice and to have this level of financial support in place is crucial for their long-term success. When a young person joins a youth theatre they have access to quality arts experiences within their own community. This can be life changing. We look forward to our continued collaboration to support a sustainable youth theatre culture in Co. Kerry,” Alan King, Deputy Director at Youth Theatre Ireland, added.
Youth Theatres who wish to apply must be not-for-profit and rooted in a local community setting. For more information and an application form see www.kerryetb.ie/creativity-grants.
News
Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.
Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.
The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.
Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.
Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.
She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.
“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”
In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.
In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.
last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.
During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.
This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.
News
Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.
Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.
This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.
Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.
“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.
“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”
Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections
Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109...
Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity
Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up...
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