Julie Feeney and Aoife McAtamney appointed as Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Musicians-in-Residence 2025

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Arts Office and Music Network have announced the appointment of the dlr Musicians-In-Residence 2025. This year’s scheme provides two residencies, one for an established musician which has been awarded to composer/singer/songwriter Julie Feeney and an additional residency to support the work of an emerging musician, songwriter/interdisciplinary artist Aoife McAtamney also known as Daughter Of A Drum.

Now in its 11th year, the scheme provides musicians with space and time to create new work, develop their skills, collaborate with others and showcase their music.  This year’s residencies will run from May to November and will provide each artist with funding, a dedicated space to work in and mentoring to support their career development.

Audiences will also have an opportunity to engage with the musicians at a series of public performances and workshops in Dún Laoghaire throughout the residencies.

The Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Cllr. Jim O’Leary said: 

“Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is delighted to announce Julie Feeney and Aoife McAtamney as the recipients of the 2025 DLR Musicians in Residence Scheme, and we look forward to working with them over the coming months. We are very grateful to the Arts Council for funding this Scheme.”

Our first resident musician is this year’s dlr emerging artist awardee Aoife McAtamney, whose residency will start this May. Aoife will work on developing Authors, a cross-artform music project inspired by libraries and celebrating the connection between songwriting and literature. She will also be mentored by critically acclaimed folk singer Niamh Regan as she composes a new collection of songs inspired by the works of selected writers, each song reflecting the life and legacy of one author.

Aoife's residency will include workshops and open rehearsals for the public and culminate in a concert performance of the newly composed songs with cellist Caitríona Finnegan at dlr LexIcon.

This year’s established artist awardee Julie Feeney will begin her residency in August. Julie will create an original composition titled Breathe in Dun Laoghaire with Julie Feeney which she will perform live at the dlr LexIcon studio in November. During her time in residence, she will also present three public workshops which will engage with the work which is inspired by the act of breathing, it’s connection to speech and song and how it brings us to life.

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said: 

“Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is very pleased to continue our strong working relationship with Music Network on this important collaboration. Congratulations to the selected musicians.”

Commenting on the announcement, CEO of Music Network Sharon Rollston added: 

“It’s a pleasure to work with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Arts Office once again on the management of this annual scheme. These residencies will provide valuable time and resources for the appointed musicians to develop their artistic practice, advance their careers and produce exciting new work, and we very much look forward to supporting them in bringing their creative ideas to life as the year unfolds.”

The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Arts Office Musicians-in-Residence Scheme is jointly funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the Arts Council and is managed by Music Network.