The National Concert Hall (NCH) has published research by B&A which shows that music is more important to Irish people with a 86 per cent rating when compared with other cultural facets such as books and reading on 80 per cent, TV on 69 per cent, films and cinema on 58 per cent, sport on 53 per cent and theatre with a 29 per cent score.
The ‘Ireland’s Relationship with Music’ survey by B&A for the NCH involved interviews with 1,010 adults in Ireland in June of this year. The study examines people’s interactions and experiences with music. The survey found that there is a clear personal importance of music, with 91 per cent of Irish people saying music makes them happy and lifts their mood.
The findings show one in three adults see music as being central to Ireland’s national identity.
There was a 79 per cent positive response to music being an important element of Irish culture, while 72 per cent have considerable pride in the quality of Irish music. One in three Irish people back the idea of a dedicated centre for music in Ireland – a place that aims to showcase the best in music, promote musical education and cater to a broad range of tastes.
The NCH on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin is home to the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Music Network, Crash Ensemble and Music Generation. The NCH hosts over 1,000 events a year. Its mission is to foster and celebrate the appreciation, knowledge, enjoyment and pure love of music as an integral part of Irish life.
The Government has committed to major investment in the redevelopment of the NCH with work expected to start on the Earlsfort Terrace site in 2021/2022. The redevelopment will provide Ireland with a state-of-the-art building and space to inspire a new generation of musicians and music lovers and become Ireland’s foremost must-visit music venue.
Pictured are Simon Taylor, National Concert Hall and John Donegan, Skoda Ireland
