The first full-time professional chamber ensemble to be set up in Ireland in 40 years is to be located in Co Sligo, it was announced last night.
Sligo's two local authorities, in conjunction with County Sligo VEC, Music Network and the Arts Council, will establish the group, which will take up its initial residency in September 1999.
The quartet will be chosen by international competition, and its activities in Sligo will include performance, teaching and music education.
Speaking last night, Music Network's chief executive, Mr Niall Doyle, said it was an initiative which will not just be important for Sligo, but "will make Sligo important to the whole country in terms of the development of music in Ireland".
The Sligo quartet is the first to be set up in Ireland since RTE first established a string quartet - currently the RTE Vanbrugh Quartet - in Cork.
Mr Doyle, who was carrying out his last official engagement for Music Network before taking up his new post as RTE's Director of Music E E next month, said Music Network's vision was to establish at least seven such small professional groups around the State. He praised Sligo's "vision".
The development was also welcomed by the RTE Vanbrugh Quartet, who celebrated the occasion by giving a concert at Drumcliffe Church, where a local authority-supported series of summer concerts will be presented between Sunday, July 26th, and Sunday, August 16th.
