A local election candidate has called for a music college in the West of Ireland – and for it to be located in Ballina.
Ballina based Fine Gael candidate Hugh Rouse believes that there is an obvious case for the establishment of a fully fledged college of music in the west.
Mr. Rouse has written to the Minister for Higher and Further Education Simon Harris, asking that his idea receive serious consideration.
He has pointed out how Ballina is an ideal location for the college, “sitting right in the heart of the wonderful rich traditional music genres of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Galway and Clare.”
Ballina, he continued, has a great capacity to cater for big events, hosting the All Ireland Fleadh Cheol in 1997 & 1998, the Connacht Fleadh most recently last year, and of course the annual Salmon Festival.
Mr. Rouse also highlighted the success of U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to the North Mayo town last year which coincided with the Ballina 2023 300 year celebrations.
The Fine Gael candidate has been giving more details on his proposed plans to Midwest Radio’s Rian Bailey:
