DkIT alumni Micéal Mullen on his transition from EU Policy to Irish Music lead role
A graduate of the BA Hons in Music and Performance Technologies at DkIT, Newry native Miceál Mullen is a clear example of the variety of opportunities a music course can bring. A member of the successful band Cúig, whose albums received significant critical acclaim internationally, he has transitioned from a career abroad in European Policy, to finding his way back to his love of Traditional Irish Music in his current role at Belfast Trad.
Growing up around traditional Irish Music and performing himself since the age of 6, banjo and Mandolin player Miceál always knew he wanted to study within the area of music but just needed to find the right fit for him.
With his love of trad at the forefront of his mind during his search, the DkIT degree seemed like a perfect option. Interactions with lecturers as well as tours of the top-class music facilities at the DkIT Open Day sealed the deal for Miceál.
“The recording studios and the production side of things as well as the performance halls and the recital rooms were a big draw for me,” he said.
Being close to home and the potential of saving some money was also very appealing. Despite different applications to a few third level options, and changing applications from Institutes in the North to the south, Miceál found the student finance process straightforward.
He recalls his experience in Dundalk fondly; “You really had the chance to build relationships with the people you were studying with,” according to Miceál, reflecting on the small class sizes within DkIT. Having close links to lecturers and opportunities like Erasmus trips to Porto were also key benefits of the smaller numbers.
Areas like Music technology, history, performance, or in Miceál’s words “a broad range of everything” were all part of the DkIT curriculum. “It really prepared me going forward to look at a variety of career paths. I gained knowledge in a lot of things.” This preparation was evident in Miceál’s career path, starting out in a communications role and transitioning to a Programme Co-ordinator.
For his current project work and programme development role, an experience which has really stood to him was the Community Music module which provided core opportunities for outreach with people with additional needs. This practical experience was also invaluable for some of Miceál’s peers who opted to go in to teaching after their degrees and one which he also recalls fondly.
Areas like Western Art Music and more classical genres were some where Miceál had little interest prior to his degree, but he found that the teaching approach to these made them more accessible and soon changed his outlook. “It wasn’t isolated to theory; you had a lot of hands-on experience,” Miceál recalls, with fond memories of the end of term concerts, which provided something to work towards as well as a great way to display the talent of the music students to the local community, family and friends. In addition to DkIT’s renowned black box theatre, students also performed gigs in The Spirit Store and An Táin Arts Centre, showcasing their talents to the wider community. Frequenting events in these venues and others in the lively Dundalk music scene was also a central part of his college experience. “Outside of college life there’s a buzzing scene for socialising in Dundalk,” he said and college events provided a great opportunity to meet people from other degrees too.
On completing his degree, Micéal began his Masters in Music Industries at the University of Glasgow. This provided him with the business acumen and marketing structures which then led him to Germany to a role at the European Music Council in Cologne. After four years there as a Communications Manager, he recently returned to Belfast to become Programme Co-ordinator for Belfast Trad. The cross-community arts charity works with long time trad artists, new comers to the scene, and anyone interested in the area to foster interest and provide access to the wonders of trad music for all.
Having successfully navigated some varied roles, Micéal encourages anyone who has an interest in studying music to take the leap. Just some of the transferrable skills that have been beneficial in his career path to date including communications and confidence building. His experience so far is a testament to the range of opportunities a music degree can provide.
“It doesn’t just have to be in performance,” he says, “there is so much more out there when it comes to music.”
