Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown’s cultural scene has received a major boost, with two standout artists selected for the 2026 Musicians-in-Residence programme. In a welcome piece of Dublin news, Cormac Curran and Julia Mahon have been named as the latest recipients of the dlr residency scheme, a long-running initiative designed to give musicians the time, support and space to create ambitious new work.
The 2026 programme, organised by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Arts Office in partnership with Music Network, will run from August through December. This year’s format includes two separate residencies: one for an established artist and one aimed at supporting an emerging composer, musician or songwriter.
Dublin news: Two artists chosen for 2026 residency
Cormac Curran has been awarded the established musician residency. A respected composer and multi-instrumentalist, he plans to spend the residency developing new material with writer and performer Tommy Tiernan. Their project will bring together Tiernan’s newly written prose with Curran’s original music, with the goal of producing work for both a live show and an album.
The collaboration is expected to examine how sound can respond to language, emotion and narrative rhythm. As part of the residency, local audiences in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown will also get a chance to see the artistic process unfold through rehearsals, workshops and live presentations.
Julia Mahon, who performs professionally as J. Lune, has been awarded the emerging artist residency. Her new project, Home, Or Something Like It, will explore identity, migration and belonging through a full-length electroacoustic performance. The work will focus closely on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and ask what it means to stay, leave or return to a place.
Mahon’s piece will blend instruments and textures including uilleann pipes, piano, cello, synthesisers, electronics and live effects. It will also feature new poetry from Daniel Wade and Vickey Curtis, while incorporating community voices into the final composition.
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What the residency means for local culture
Now in its 12th year, the Musicians-in-Residence scheme has become an important support for artists working in Ireland. Beyond funding, it provides:
- Dedicated workspace for creative development
- Mentoring and career support
- Opportunities for public engagement
- A platform for new performances and collaborations
That combination is especially valuable in a creative environment where artists often need both financial backing and public visibility. While this is firmly arts-focused Dublin news, it also reflects the wider strength of Dublin business in the cultural and creative economy, where investment in music, performance and community projects can have lasting local impact.
Council representatives welcomed the appointments, with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown officials and Music Network highlighting the importance of continuing support for musicians at different career stages. The scheme is jointly funded by the local authority and the Arts Council, and managed by Music Network.
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Why this announcement matters
This Dublin news story is about more than two appointments. It shows how local arts programmes can help produce original work while opening the creative process to the public. Both Curran and Mahon are using the residency to build projects rooted in collaboration, place and participation, giving audiences something deeper than a finished concert alone.
For music lovers in the county, the months ahead should bring workshops, works in progress and performances that reveal how new Irish music is made. The key takeaway from this Dublin news update is clear: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown continues to invest meaningfully in artists, and the public will be able to experience that creative return firsthand.
