Scoláireacht Ashling Murphy
Comhaltas has established three scholarships to recognise and remember the talent and legacy of the late Ashling Murphy. Ashling was a primary school teacher, Comhaltas music teacher and performer.
There are three scholarships in her memory awarded each year under the categories of Community, Education and Research.
The scholarships are kindly sponsored by Ken Barrett of KB Leisurewear.
Community
The first scholarship will primarily focus on the community and is intended to support individuals working to develop participation and practice in traditional arts, including collaborative, community and socially engaged arts practices. Possibilities for the development of current Comhaltas community structures should be explored. It is envisaged that implementation of this project should result in tangible and beneficial outcomes for the traditional arts in the community.
Oideachas
The second scholarship will focus on music education. The scholarship is intended to support individual educators working with, and producing work for, students across the Irish traditional arts. The purpose of the scholarship is to support educators in the development of their practice and to encourage students to be more confident in their own ability. Delivery of this project can include the development of new programmes of traditional music education.
Research
The purpose of the third scholarship is to support researchers in the development of a new piece of research in the Irish traditional arts. Possible areas for research might include aspects of regional performance styles, repertoire, composition, music education, collections, recordings, among others. It is envisaged that implementation of this project should result in tangible outcome, which may take the form of book/CD publication, lecture recital, journal article, website etc.
Deadline Date 5pm 28th of June 2024
Terms and how to enter
Submissions should include name, contact information, short biography of the applicant and a brief outline of the project to include a proposed budget and timeline.
Submissions are welcomed in both English and Irish language.
Successful applicants will be awarded €2000 towards the overall cost of the project: €1000 when the scholarship is awarded and €1000 upon completion.
All applications should be sent to [email protected] to arrive no later than 5pm on June 28th, 2024.
Applications will be assessed by a panel of independent adjudicators and results announced before July 12th, 2024.
The scholarships will be awarded at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2024 in Wexford.
Apply now
Also available as a document for download
Previous Recipients of the Ashling Murphy Scholarship
Eimear Arkins
Clare
Project: Community Traditional Music Sessions in St. Louis
From Ruan in Co.Clare, Eimear is an award winning musician, singer and dancer with eleven solo Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann titles to her credit. She has toured throughout the USA, Ireland and beyond with Cherish the Ladies,Téda the The Paul Brock Band and ‘A Celtic Christmas’ and has also toured extensively with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann groups.
Eimear is a qualified Irish music instructor (TTCT) and an Irish dance instructor (TCRG) and currently teaches for St.Louis Irish Arts. In June 2018 she released her debut album ‘What’s Next?’ and was awarded ‘Best Newcomer’ from LiveIreland in 2019. In January 2020, Eimear was awarded an Artist Fellowship from the Regional Arts Commission of St.Louis. In 2024 she released her second album, ‘Here and There.’
Madeleine McDowell
Antrim
Project: The Significance of Irish Traditional Music In Music Therapy Practice in Northern Ireland
A traditional fiddler from Ballymena in Co.Antrim, Madeline has had a passion for music from a young age. As well as being an accomplished traditional musician, she has played classical violin extensively, performing with the Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra, the Ulster Youth Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and the University of St.Andrews Chamber Orchestra.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Queen’s University Belfast and a Master’s Degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of St.Andrews, Madeleine is currently studying for a Master’s in Music Therapy at the University of South Wales.
Fiana Ní Chonaill
Limerick
Project: Imagining and Re-Imagining Limerick’s Relationship With The Harp
From Castleconnell in Limerick, Fiana is an experienced Irish Harp teacher and currently works as a guest lecturer and tutor at the Irish World Academy in UL. Fiana is also the Artistic Director of the Tuamgraney Harp Festival in East Clare and holds a performance diploma from the London College of Music for Irish Traditional Harp Performance.
An experienced Comhaltas adjudicator, she holds also holds CCÉ teaching diploma (TTCT). An accomplished musician, Fiana has numerous AlIreland titles to her name and has performed for, among others, Presidents of Ireland Mary McAleese and Michael D. Higgins and the Emperor and Empress of Japan. In 2016 she released her solo harp album titled ‘Dathanna an Cheoil’.