BURSARIES

Applications for the 2024/2025 Bursaries are now open. ⁠ Anyone who is a full time student (or applying to be in 2024) in a Musical Theatre/Drama or Music Course, here, the UK or abroad, can apply.

Please apply by filling out the Google form here & send the requested documentation to secretary@aims.ie

The closing date for this years bursaries is June 7th 2024.

Anne O'Neill - Bursary for Musical Theatre

Anne O’Neill – Musical Director, Chorus Mistress, Accompanist worked in the AIMS and associated circles for 30 years. She always had a soft spot for people trying to “Make it in the business” and supported them in every way she could.

Anne has sadly passed on, but she wouldn’t approve of anything more than a bursary in her name to help people studying in the field, so that’s why this bursary exists.

This Bursary is kindly provided by Anne’s family in her name and is administered by AIMS.

PAST RECIPIENTS

2024 - Applications Open

2023 - Ali Fleming

2022 - Rachel Gaughan

2021 - Emma Thornton

2020 - David O'Donovan

2019 - Callum Martin

2018 - Gavin Kennedy

2017 - Emma Martin

2016 - Megan McArthur

2015 - Anna Rose Hennessy

2014 – Diarmuid Scahill
2013 – Zak McClelland
2012 – Hilary Murnane
2010 – Clare Duffy

2009 – Amy Harpur
2008 – Amy Penston
2007 – Anthony Kinahan

2006 – Kieran Griffiths

2005 – Ben Morris

2004 – AJ O’Neill

Dee Moloney Carter - Bursary for Musical Theatre

We were delighted to launch a new AIMS Bursary in loving memory of the talented and luminous Deidre Moloney Carter, or Dee as she was more affectionately known.

Dee had a strong passion for all things musical theatre, and was treading the boards from an early age under the guidance of the legendary Mona Conroy.

Over her long and varied career she played a wide variety of leading roles and was also a choral participant in a number of musical productions with Newbridge Musical Society (as they were formerly known), Naas Musical Society, Clane Musical Society over her many years gracing the stage.

Dee was a proud two-times AIMS award-winner for her portrayals of Anita in “West Side Story” (Best Supporting Actress - 2005) and Charity in“Sweet Charity” (Best Comedienne - 2006) both with Newbridge Musical Theatre.

Dee treasured every moment of her time on stage, making memories alongside her beloved friends. Dee was also a huge supporter of the younger members in Musical Societies and loved nothing more than seeing new talent blossom and grow.

Dee’s family who announced the Bursary firmly believe that she would have loved to support someone at the start of their theatre training journey, and they are honoured that this bursary will help someone achieve their dream.

This bursary is a beautiful testament to the huge love that she not only created and has left behind… Her super smile, her tenacious talent and her glorious energy will live on in anyone who’s lucky to get the chance to take on this Bursary.

PAST RECIPIENTS

2024 - Applications Open

2023 - Katie Anne Harris

Anna-Marie McQuillan – Bursary for Stage Management

This Bursary celebrates a love of musical theatre which Anna had in abundance but it celebrates her love of Stage Management and all things behind the scenes!

Anna-Marie McQuillan or Anne-Marie as her many friends and colleagues knew her had a long involvement and association with a few musical societies. Her first foray onto the stage was with St Michael’s Musical Society, Inchicore Dublin 8 in 1982 in their first production The Pirates of Penzance. She continued to thread the boards with them in many shows including Grease, Anything Goes, Oklahoma! and her favourite Calamity Jane.

Her love of musical theatre was always evident, and after St Michael’s Musical Society ceased for a number of years, she was bitten again by the Musical Society bug again. In 2015 Anne- Marie was one of a small & dedicated group who got together and after much planning, many meetings and much deliberation ....In 2015 KIMS -Kilmainham Inchicore Musical Society was born!

Anna- Marie saw the role and the importance of a local Musical Society, as an integral part of the local community. She continued to play a vital part in KIMS working on their shows until her ill health wouldn’t allow her. Luckily the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and her love of musical theatre being the heart and at the heart of the local community has been proudly carried on by her children, her sisters and her nieces.

Anna- Marie did not want or seek to be in the limelight and was more than happy at home working away behind the scenes. A call from her meant so much to so many, be ready to lend a hand, be ready to gather props…..Her passion, dedication and warmth was always to the forefront of all she did. Each show gave her another opportunity to work her magic and bring that magic to the show!

Anna-Marie loved nothing more when the curtain came down then meeting up with friends from different musical societies and share their opinions of the show most likely over a social drink and a song was always thrown in. She loved the buzz of show week in Kilmainham Inchicore and her passion for all things musical was evident as she travelled to many other musical society productions.

Sadly, on January 23rd 2023, Anna-Marie passed away after a long battle with cancer. She fought this with great dignity, courage and strength.

Her family are honoured to sponsor this Bursary, a loving way to remember, all that she loved in life and that legacy now lives on with this Bursary.

PAST RECIPIENTS

2024 - Applications Open

2023 - Alanna Busher Carley

AIMS BURSARY

PAST RECIPIENTS

2024 - Applications Open

2023 - Kate Cullen

2022 - Hannah Devereux and Grace Shesgreen

2021 - Ashton Murphy and Aoibheann Malone

2020 - Rua Barron

2019 - Gavin Ryan

Historical Bursaries

GLENEAGLE BURSARY

The Gleneagle Hotel has hosted the annual AIMS Awards for the past twelve years but its relationship and support of Irish musicals is in fact much older. The Gleneagle Hotel is one of the original patrons of the Killarney Musical Society and has been proud to stage their annual musical since the INEC first opened in 2000. The annual AIMS Weekend and awards ceremony is a highlight in The Gleneagle calendar and the hotel is proud to sponsor the AIMS Bursary for 2015 for the golden jubilee celebrations.

Anyone who is a full time student in a recognised Theatre/Drama School may apply. See below for the rules and eligibility.

PAST RECIPIENTS

2019 - Sean Hanratty and Niamh Long

2018 - Tom O’Kelly
2017 - Liam McEvoy
2016 - Sam O’Shea
2015 - Shane O'Riordan

2014 – Christopher McGuigan

2013 – Anne O’Riordan

2012 – Andrew Linnie

2010 – Hollie O’Donoghue

2009 – Barry MacGonagle

2008 – Patrick Smyth

BURSARY GUIDELINES

The bursary shall be awarded on an annual basis.
The AIMS Youth and Education Committee shall have sole responsibility in the final decision regarding the bursary.
The AIMS Youth and Education Committee shall appoint an independent assessor for selection purposes.
The bursary shall be advertised in April/May of each calendar year. It shall be advertised on the AIMS website and by any other means deemed to be necessary by the AIMS Youth and Education Committee.
Notice of the bursary application shall be sent to regional and society secretaries. It is the responsibility of the aforementioned secretaries to notify the relevant bodies.
Each letter of application shall be accompanied by a detailed personal Curriculum Vitae and signed by a committee member of an affiliated AIMS society.
Each applicant must make themselves available for interview at the discretion of the AIMS Youth and Education Committee.
The bursary shall be awarded to a sole recipient.
Recipients may only receive the bursary on one occasion.
Only those enrolled on a recognised full time theatre course shall be eligible for consideration.
The decisions of the AIMS Youth and education Committee shall be final in all matters.