Connect with us
Fontaines DC Dolans. Photo: Cian Reinhardt Fontaines DC Dolans. Photo: Cian Reinhardt

Business

Limerick venues supported through 2026 Grassroots Venues Support Scheme

Published

2 months ago

on

Limerick venues supported through 2026 Grassroots Venues Support Scheme. Pictured is Irish band Fontaines DC performing at Dolan’s Warehouse. Photo: Cian Reinhardt

Recipients of the 2026 Grassroots Venues Support Scheme have been announced, with four Limerick venues set to receive more than €60,000 in funding

Limerick rapper Hazey Haze performing at the Commercial Bar in Limerick as part of Twilight Thursdays – Picture by: Kieran Ryan-Benson

Four Limerick venues are set to receive €68,000 in support through the 2026 Grassroots Venues Support Scheme, aimed at aiding venues who support grassroots music as well as showcasing the talent of emerging artists across Ireland.

Sixty venues across Ireland have been offered funding of up to €20,000 from the Scheme, an increase from the 34 venues supported in the 2025 pilot scheme. In addition, grant recipients include venues platforming Irish comedy and comedians.

Four Limerick venues were successful among the 60 across Ireland, with Dolans and The Commercial Bar in Limerick City receiving up to €20,000, Newcastle West‘s Cleary’s Bar also receiving €20,000, and Wickham Way receiving €8,000.


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement

 Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, T.D. said he believes Ireland’s grassroots venues are “central to nurturing emerging artists” and provide great opportunity for honing talent. He said it is “very important that we recognise their contribution to the live performance industry, particularly given the challenges these venues face.”

Recipients of the 2026 Grassroots Venues Support Scheme have been announced, with four Limerick venues set to receive €68,000 in funding
Nonty of Nonties, Alyssa Martin, Jacoui Martin, Yvette Martin and Monei of Mona’s Kitchen, Wickham Way. – Picture by Kieran Ryan-Benson

The Minister added, “I look forward to seeing the diversity of genre and talent that will reach new audiences as a result of this funding over the months ahead. I’d also encourage audiences from across the country to embrace the resource of their local venue and support artists in the early stages of their careers.”

The 2026 scheme offered grants under two separate Streams to support venues at various levels of development. Grants of up to €20k were available under Stream A to established grassroots venues with a proven track record in programming emerging Irish artists. Stream B offered grants of up to €8k to venues who have previously programmed Irish artists and will use funding under this scheme to programme emerging artists performing live music or comedy.

Related Topics:

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.