Mattie McGrath: Musicians and Rural Arts Left Behind, Calls for Support
Mattie McGrath criticised the Department of Arts' funding scheme, arguing that musicians, small bands and other rural performers have been excluded and left without support. He called for immediate changes to the scheme and direct help for self‑employed musicians and performers, warning of financial hardship and mental‑health damage.
Funding gaps cited
He said some groups received funding under 203 schemes but that 87% of the single X and double X and small groups got nothing, leaving many performers without any income after months of disruption.
Rural culture and livelihoods
McGrath emphasised the importance of musicians, dancers and local entertainers to rural Ireland, saying communities are proud of their heritage and that people travel miles for social dancing and music. He warned these artists cannot simply ‘go off digging spuds’ and that the loss of venues and paid work threatens the survival of the industry.
Criticism of the scheme and ministerial attitude
He described the scheme as rushed in March and said it has not been adapted in eight months, criticising the minister’s attitude and arguing the effort has failed to embrace the whole nation, especially rural performers.
Mental health and industry risk
McGrath highlighted the mental‑health impact on performers who live for shows and social events, saying prolonged exclusion from work is causing severe damage and could lead to the loss of artists and cultural skills.
Local venues and cultural value
He named local bands and venues as examples of where music, dance and song flourish, arguing that Irish music and culture could sell the country’s reputation if properly supported and allowed to survive without further delay.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
You know, I'll be brief as I can, that cohort that they better refer to, the musicians, is such a vital part of our, you know, of our being, and our entertainment, and the people that follow them, and they have been excluded, and indeed the funding that was administered by the Department of Arts, you know, some groups got funding under 203 schemes, but 87% of the single X and double X and small groups got nothing. They can't live under wind, Minister. When I'm making this up, and I don't like your attitude that we come in and we have the privilege of meeting groups outside the gate, we live in the communities, we get down and dirty with the people, maybe because you're in Dublin 4 or 3, you don't know what the people think in rural Ireland, but the people in rural Ireland are proud of their heritage, proud of their culture, and they want to work, they don't want handouts and payouts, and the island finishes, the M50, they're proud of what they have, so I won't take any lectures from you again today, like last night, that we are trying to just make fun, you have had since March, and I acknowledge at the outset, that the scheme was rushed, and we had to put things in place hurriedly, yes, but eight months later, we haven't adapted it or adjusted it, and we haven't got the right people on to an effort, to embrace the whole nation, the musicians, the actors, indeed all this, self-employed, they can't get it, I mean, an understanding of those people, and above all their mental health, it's shocking, the damage of mental health, because some people live for those shows, and the lift they give them, they look forward from one week to the next, to the social dancing outlets, and they travel miles for them, and that's their life, they love it, but we're not going to have an industry, these artists will go, and they can't go off digging spuds, or digging coal, or cutting turf anymore, it's all gone as well, and we want them to entertain, and we want them, and we want places like Ciotas, to flourish, under Oslo Horl, Oslo Monroco, it's a band Caila Oona, you over there yourself, John Kohler, and Cashelam Oona, in Brooberoo, the music, and the dance, and the song, and the skills, would sell Ireland alone, without anyone opening our mouth, and any schemes, or anything else, so, we're looking after the people that have been left behind, and after eight, nine months, facing nine months into Christmas, without a penny, they need support, and they need to be left to live, go out more and good.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
