Cork music and dance schools push to reopen under level 3 restrictions

'We are a very socially-distanced art form as it is,' says Lucy French, who runs the Lucy French School Of Dance in Kinsale, Co Cork.

Music, dance and other creative arts teachers are urging the Government to allow them to reopen their studios once the country returns to level three restrictions. The move comes after the sector suffered another blow, with private schools across the country being told there would be “no extracurricular arts activities” past level two.

Sile Ni Dhubhghaill is the founder of Lee Valley Academy of Music in Macroom, where she teaches about 150 students — a task not made easy by the lockdowns. The school reopened in September, with “major safety measures.” However, it has now been told it will have to close under level five and will have to remain that way until the country is at level two.