MUSIC Network's new sponsorship deal with the ESB, announced last night at a reception in Dublin Castle, may he "the fourth or fifth biggest arts sponsorship in the history of the State", guesses Ann Swift, Music Network's Information and PR Manager.

She is not at liberty to disclose the amount of the sponsorship, but confirms that the ESB will be sponsoring the organisation for the next three years. Until now, the Network has been without a main sponsor, and has survived on grants from Arts Councils north and south, and a grant from IMRO. In existence 10 years, the organisation was radically shaken up in 1992, when Niall Doyle came in as Chief Executive.

This sponsorship comes at a crucial time, just as the Network is firmly establishing itself as one of the most vital, important organisations in Irish musical life, pushing classical, jazz and traditional music up and down the country, from Tallaght to Bantry, from Cahir to Carlingford, from Belfast to Wexford (I think l feel a ballad coming on . . .

This year's programme, which has begun with a tour by fiddler, Maire Breatnach, will include tours by the Amsterdam Guitar Trio, the London Mozart Piano Trio, the Danish String Quartet, Christine Toibin, the Aurelius Saxophone Quartet, and a bevy of traditional musicians.

And there's more. The Network has announced a new cross border performance scheme, "Musicwide", which will sponsor a panel of classical and jazz musicians, from north and south of the border, to tour to a wide range of promoters and arts venues: participants include the Dennison String Quartet, Khanda, who play world and jazz music, and ace saxophonist, Ken Edge, who will focus on the classical side of his wide open repertoire.