The University of Limerick has announced a new three-year arts patronage award through the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. The award, entitled Irish World Academy Artist, University of Limerick will facilitate the creative process of selected artists across a three-year period through a budget of €60,000.

The first artist to receive the award is Clare fiddler Martin Hayes who commences his three-year association with the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick in January 2016.

Martin Hayes has been internationally acclaimed for bringing his local East Clare traditional fiddle style to a global audience through his many performances and recording. More recently he has formed the ensemble The Gloaming which has further pushed the boundaries of Irish traditional music in the field of ensemble playing that started with Sean Ó Riada’s (1930 – 1971) pioneering ensemble Ceóltóirí Chualainn in the 1960s. Hayes also acknowledges the significant influence of Dublin fiddler Tommie Potts (1912 – 1987) on his creative output.

The Irish World Academy Artist at the University of Limerick will undertake a series of creative projects across the three-year span. Students of the Academy will have access to open workshops in the state-of-the-art Irish World Academy building on the banks of the river Shannon on the University Campus.

Speaking at the launch of the award Professor Don Barry, President of the University said: “It is fitting that an artist of the stature of Martin Hayes should be the inaugural  Irish World Academy Artist, given Martin’s unique contribution to our cultural life and the Irish World Academy’s vision for Ireland’s past, present and future.”

On his appointment, Martin Hayes said: “I’m deeply honoured to be named the first Irish World Academy Artist at the University of Limerick and grateful for the opportunity this three year initiative affords me to explore the possibility of further musical collaboration in such a creative environment.”

Professor Mícheál Ó Súílleabháin, Chair of Music and Founder Director of the Irish World Academy said: “The Irish World Academy Artist initiative is further evidence of the commitment of the University of Limerick to the Performing Arts at the highest level. That the first award goes to a local artist with a global reputation builds on the Irish World Academy record of linking the local with the global towards the mutual benefit of both.”

The Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick
The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance is a centre of academic and performance excellence housed at the University of Limerick, Ireland. The Academy honours the energies of performance and academic reflection across a wide range of genres and disciplines. These in turn are informed by innovative community outreach and artist-in-residence initiatives that take the Academy to the wider community while attracting a wealth of international performance and scholarly expertise. Founded  in  1994  by  Professor  Mícheál   Ó  Súilleabháin, the Academy has found its true home on the banks of the River Shannon in a state of the art, purposely designed building, which includes two theatres, recording studio, individual practice rooms and dance studios.  This provides an inspiring creative space for all those who study and perform here. The Academy has a strong international presence with students from over 40 countries. It also has distinguished faculty of excellent performers and academics, as well as visiting artists, lecturers and industry professionals.

The Academy offers a suite of taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in music, dance and related subject areas and its research is at the forefront of these fields of enquiry worldwide.