Taoiseach in Balbriggan to launch cultural partnership between educational institutions
Institute of Music and Song teams up with American College Dublin
An Taoiseach, Michéal Martin, has hailed moves to position Balbriggan as an emerging centre of educational and cultural excellence.
He was speaking as he launched a strategic partnership between The Irish Institute of Music and Song (IIMS) in the town and the city centre based American College Dublin (ACD) at The Lark Concert Hall, on the IIMS’s Balbriggan campus.
The Taoiseach joined Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tony Murphy, to celebrate the offering of a prestigious third-level degree and master’s qualifications in musical theatre on the campus.
It was a return visit for the Taoiseach, who turned the sod on the IIMS’s state of the art 400-seat Lark concert hall in January 2022.
The launch marks the beginning of a broad international collaboration between the IIMS and ACD.
A range of educational partnerships, artist residencies, masterclasses and exchange initiatives, designed to create new opportunities for students and strengthen international engagement across the performing arts sector, are in development.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master’s of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and Performance have institutional accreditation from the US-based Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the same accrediting body for Princeton and Columbia Universities and the renowned Juilliard School.
The IIMS has partnered with ACD to offer the qualifications since September. They were the first accredited third level musical theatre degrees in Ireland, offering aspiring performers a world class conservatory education without having to leave the country.
Graduates have gone on to perform on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including acclaimed West End productions such as Les Misérables, Close Up – The Twiggy Musical, The Buddy Holly Show, The Witches of Eastwick and K Pop All Stars.
The programmes were developed under the leadership of Dr Deirdre Masterson, Performing Arts Dean at ACD.
Balbriggan is currently the site of a €50-55 million economic, infrastructural and social plan, ‘Our Balbriggan’ led by Fingal County Council, which recently completed the landmark €15 million redevelopment of the town’s historic Quay Street and Harbour area as part of the project.
Launching the programme, the Taoiseach said the partnership was a major step in positioning Balbriggan as an emerging centre of excellence in education and culture.
“The opportunity for students to work in such outstanding facilities will not only enrich academic experience, but will advance career prospects."
The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tony Murphy, said the expansion of the student body at the Irish Institute of Music and Song would have positive impact on the local economy.
“The offering of a prestigious third-level degree and master’s qualification is major step forward for Balbriggan and ties in with the rejuvenation of Ireland’s youngest - and one of its most culturally diverse large towns,” the Mayor said.
According to Michael T Dawson, CEO of the IIMS educational campus, which has created 100 jobs, and since 2023 is the site of the €12m, 400-seater Lark Concert Hall, the development is a dream come true.
"From the outset, our ambition was to create a campus that would attract world-class education and artistic opportunities to Balbriggan,” he said.
“This partnership is a significant step in achieving that vision and will have a lasting impact on students, the local community and Ireland's cultural landscape.”
Dr Deirdre Masterson said ACD is delighted to marry its stellar educational programming with the award winning facilities at the Irish Institute of Music and Song campus.
"This partnership creates an exciting new pathway for aspiring performers to access conservatory-level training and internationally recognised qualifications in Ireland.
“It reflects a shared commitment by ACD and IIMS to educational excellence, artistic innovation and global engagement.”