Irish Government Unveils €500,000 Announcement

Irish Government Announces Fund

The Irish government has announced a fund of 500,000 euros aimed at supporting mass music venues across the country.

• READ MORE: 2025 can change the situation to finance British mass music, but when will we see the action and where will the money go?

Grant Eligibility Criteria

Under this initiative, venues with a capacity of 500 or fewer can receive a grant of up to 15,000 euros, provided they serve as a platform for new and local artists and prioritize mass performances in their programming.

This initiative was announced earlier this month by Patrick O’Donovan, Minister of Arts, Media, Communications, Culture, and Sports, as part of the Irish government’s broader support for the night-time economy.

“Mass music venues are an integral part of the musical ecosystem in Ireland and are vital for our communities,” O’Donovan stated. “I want to support these spaces to provide opportunities for emerging artists, allowing them to develop their skills and cultivate their audiences.”

Minister @Podonovan has announced a new night-scale economy support scheme amounting to 500,000 euros for mass music venues. Applications are now open.
D ‘fhógair taire @Podonovan Scéim Tacaíochta Nua € 500,000 mm Haleagar Oíche d’Ionaid Cheoil Phobail Inniu.https://t.co/oeei6nc2pg pic.twitter.com/go4jdbo0fr

-Turism-culture-art-taltach-collection media (@deptcultureirl) March 31, 2025

Supporting Local Music Scenes

“Many of the major acts we see today in large arenas started their careers performing in mass venues, so supporting these places is essential for providing opportunities to novice musicians and DJs,” O’Donovan emphasized.

Eligible Irish establishments can now apply, with the scheme set to commence on May 15 or until the allocated funds run out. Check the full list of eligibility criteria here and submit an application here.

This initiative comes at a time of crisis for the live music economy. In the UK, the government has long supported a scheme for collecting tickets for arena-level concerts and above, based on the “Premier League Model,” which seeks to return funds to the ecosystem to support the current talent pipeline, similar to trends in football. A recent report revealed that over 90 percent of music fans back a ticket collection scheme set at 1 pound.

With the new Labour Government also promising a cap on advertised ticket prices and investigating dynamic pricing following last year’s controversies surrounding the reunion of OASIS, lawmakers are vowing to take proactive measures to ensure a more stable future for British music and its audiences.

As for concert venues, the music trust recently reported a “full collapse of the tour” throughout Great Britain, while artists such as Coldplay, Sam Fender, and Katy Perry have graciously donated tickets from their upcoming tours in arenas and stadiums. The annual MVT report for 2024 highlighted that a venue was lost every two weeks last year, with nearly 44 percent of venues facing closure and almost 20 percent requiring emergency support.

Regarding the broader industry, Mark David, the director of MVT, told NME about a “very positive meeting of all key players in the music industry” leading up to Christmas, emphasizing a shared desire among main promoters and venue operators to pursue a voluntary ticket collection scheme.

“This isn’t entirely straightforward, as there are always demands regarding ticket prices and artist compensation,” David remarked to NME. “However, a consensus was reached on how everyone would like to move forward. Efforts are already being made this year to turn this into a reality.”

David added that legislation will need a “collective approach” applicable to all major tours to be deemed successful. Without it, he warned the government would “feel obligated to intervene.”