Sherkin arts course saved after grant aid is doubled

A unique arts course on an island off the south-west coast has been saved after Cork County Council said it would double grant aid to keep it afloat.

The council has been supporting the BA in visual arts on Sherkin Island in recent years and has provided it with grant aid in excess of €140,000 during that time.

However, a couple of weeks ago the local authority decided that it was only going to provide €10,000 this year for the course which is run by Sherkin Island Development Society (SIDS) in conjunction with Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT).