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- Paul Brady Blas Scholarship to benefit 25 of Ireland’s most talented rising traditional musicians -

One of Ireland’s most enduringly popular singer-songwriters, Paul Brady, tonight announced his first-ever music scholarship, the Paul Brady Blas Scholarship, in association with the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, home to the Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance.

Paul celebrated the launch of his eponymous music scholarship by performing an intimate gig tonight with UL music students at the University Of Limerick Chancellor’s Concert, an exclusive gala black-tie event, hosted by UL Chancellor Peter Malone, and attended by 100 friends and patrons of the University and UL Foundation.

The Paul Brady Blas Scholarship will provide €20,000 in endowment funds over three years, providing 25 places for deserving musicians on the Blas programme where they will benefit from master classes and tuition from some of Ireland’s most respected traditional musicians and dancers. This summer, the Blas Summer School will take place in the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, a world-class centre of academic and performance excellence housed at the University of Limerick.

Announcing his music scholarship fund, Paul Brady said, “I am delighted to be associated in this way with the University of Limerick and in particular with the Irish World Academy, which is such an innovative and imaginative facility, under Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin’s inspired direction. It’s my hope that the Paul Brady Blas Scholarships will allow students who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity, to experience the Blas Summer School and to access the expertise of some of our finest traditional musicians, singers and dancers.”

Speaking at the launch event, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, musician, composer, Professor of Music at UL and Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance said, “This association of Paul Brady with UL and in particular with the Irish World Academy is further vindication of the relevance of the Academy’s vision with that of the professional musician’s world. A new generation of creative students will gain further inspiration and opportunity form Paul’s generosity and creative foresight.”

Applications in writing should be made to Ernestine Healy, Director, Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance, Irish World Academy, University of Limerick or email ernestine.healy@ul.ie. Applicants should include a sample recording of their music and/or dance. See www.blas.ie for further information.