Pictured at Castlebar Library, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., who launched the Music Generation Mayo Library Resource & County Community Forum Instrument Bank, which is a resource where children and young people up to the age of 18 can rent musical instruments from their local libraries. Austin Vaughan, County Librarian, welcoming Enda to the launch, l-r; Austin Vaughan, County Librarian, Dr. Katie Sweeney, CEO Co.Mayo VEC, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., Rosaleen Molloy, Music Generation National Director and Cllr. Jarlath Munnelly, Chairperson, Co.Mayo Music Education Partnership. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Music Generation Mayo in partnership with Mayo County Council Library Service has opened a wonderful music library resource for the county. This resource holds a wide range of sheet music, books, CDs, DVDs and access to online resources which will be available to library users in Mayo. This resource will be housed in Castlebar and Ballina libraries but will be accessible through the inter-library loan service in local branches countywide. There will also be enhanced music resources in all 15 Mayo library branches.

This resource is hugely important in that it provides "how-to-play" instructional courses on all the popular musical instruments allowing self-learners to progress at their own pace as well as supplementing those who are undertaking formal courses. So as well as borrowing a musical instrument in your local library you can borrow the tutorial to learn to play it. The library also contains material covering every aspect of music history from choral and classical, through folk and to pop, punk and rap -from Schubert to Snoop Dog. It also contains a number of life-stories of musicians which I believe can be a huge source of inspiration for those who are struggling to get on the first leg of the music ladder. Finally it provides information on the music business, how it works, how technology is changing the industry and most importantly how to avoid being exploited.

As well as book and music scores, the large DVD and CD library provides music for every taste -from how to do sean-nos dancing to how to make a guitar and from Bach to Bowie there is something for everyone.

Pictured in Castlebar Library, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny who launched the Music Generation Mayo Library Resource & County Community Forum Instrument Bank, which is a scheme where children up to the age of 18 can hire musical instruments and access tuition from their local libraries within South Mayo. An Taoiseach Enda Kenny addressing the large crowd who attended the launch. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Pictured at Castlebar Library, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., who launched the Music Generation Mayo Library Resource & County Community Forum Instrument Bank, which is a resource where children and young people up to the age of 18 can rent musical instruments from their local libraries. Some of the young percussionsts from The Killocraun Drummers who gave an uplifting performance for An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Pictured in Castlebar Library, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny who launched the Music Generation Mayo Library Resource & County Community Forum Instrument Bank, which is a scheme where children up to the age of 18 can hire musical instruments and access tuition from their local libraries within South Mayo. Taoiseach Enda Kenny with budding young musicians Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Pictured at Castlebar Library, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., who launched the Music Generation Mayo Library Resource & County Community Forum Instrument Bank, which is a resource where children and young people up to the age of 18 can rent musical instruments from their local libraries. Shane McDermott from the Killocraun Drummers, enjoying playing the trombone guided Duncan Moore, music tutor. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Pictured in Castlebar Library, a group of musicians who performed for An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who launched the Music Generation Mayo Library Resource & County Community Forum Instrument Bank, which is a scheme where children up to the age of 18 can hire musical instruments and access tuition from their local libraries within South Mayo. A group of musicians who performed under the guidance of Emer Mayock. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Pictured at Castlebar Library, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., who launched the Music Generation Mayo Library Resource & County Community Forum Instrument Bank, which is a resource where children and young people up to the age of 18 can rent musical instruments from their local libraries. Members of Co.Mayo Music Education Partership: L-r; Dr. Katie Sweeney, CEO Mayo VEC, Sabina Munnelly, Education Officer, Co.Mayo VEC, Mary Wrafter, Support Worker, Mayo County Community Forum, Cllr. Jarlath Munnelly, Chairperson, Co.Mayo Education Partnership, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., Ann Marie McGing, Assistant Arts Officer, MCC, Anne McCarthy, Arts Officer, MCC, Kate McKeon, Co-ordinator Music Generation Mayo and John Magee, MCC. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Pictured in Castlebar Library, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny who launched the Music Generation Mayo Library Resource & County Community Forum Instrument Bank, which is a scheme where children up to the age of 18 can hire musical instruments and access tuition from their local libraries within South Mayo. Taoiseach Enda Kenny with budding young musicians Ruth & Beth Kelly. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Pictured at Castlebar Library, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., who launched the Music Generation Mayo Library Resource & County Community Forum Instrument Bank, which is a resource where children and young people up to the age of 18 can rent musical instruments from their local libraries. L-R - An Taoiseach Enda Kenny with Cllr. Ger Deere, Kate McKeon, Co-ordinator, Music Generation Mayo, Cllr.Cyril Burke, Cathaoirleach Mayo County Council, Music tutors; Stephen Doherty, Anthony McNamee, Emer Mayock, Philip Cassidy, Duncan Moore, Deirdre Lynn-Rogers and budding young musicians trying some of the instruments that are available through the instrument bank. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.