Mayo International Choral Festival, West of Ireland

Over 50 singers take to the water to launch the 2017 Mayo International Choral Festival
The beautiful Lough Corrib and Inchagoill Island was the setting for the launch of the 2017 Mayo International Choral Festival. Last Saturday saw over 50 members of different Mayo choirs take to the waters of Lough Corrib to sing-in the 6th Festival. The atmosphere on the day was one of relaxation, fun, and a sense of adventure. For many, it was the first time onboard the Corrib Cruises craft – an 80 seater purpose built cruising boat operating daily from Cong Village. The day included a guided tour of the lake and of Inchogill Island – a most beautiful and serene place and home to many ancient monuments. A work scheme has been ongoing on the island in recent years and many overgrown paths and ruins have been rediscovered.

The day was filled with song and there were representatives from Ballyhaunis Church Choir, Castlebar Gospel Choir, Castlebar Musical Society, Cong Church Choir, Cor Mhaigh Eo, Gracenotes, Kiltimagh Choral Society, Mayo Male Voice Choir, Rocks n’Roses Choir, Sligo Male Voice Choir and the Westport Singers. Edward Horkan, Festival Chairman praised and thanked all involved for making the day such a success. The festival director, Declan Durcan also praised the various businesses who had subsidised the costs of their services on the day to make the trip so affordable – in particular Corrib Cruises, Hilda and Luke Kavanagh Coach Hire and Ryan’s Hotel in Cong.

The festival takes place at the end of May each year and has become in only a very short time one of the most popular Choral Festivals in Ireland and has attracted choirs from Canada, England, Finland, Germany Norway, Portugal, USA and Wales. The festival has now become a contact point for choirs who are touring outside of the festival dates and the festival has hosted many concerts for International choirs with local choirs. Cor Meibion Penybontfawr, a Male voice choir from Wales, will visit in October, and a concert is currently being organised in Mayo, for Saturday 22nd October, more details soon to be announced. The festival has become a very big part of the tourism sector in Mayo realising, after costs, one million euro to the Mayo economy over the last 5 years and a staggering 7,540 bednights. The festival is supported by Mayo County Council and Fáilte Ireland.

Next year’s festival runs from 24th to 28th of May 2017. Closing date for choir entry is December 31st and all events are open to a public audience. For further details contact Festival Director, Declan Durcan on 094 90 2 30 40 or visit www.mayochoral.com

Join us on Saturday Sept 3rd, when we will sing-in the 2017 festival on Lough Corrib!
More details by clicking here

Perhaps the most appropriate way to describe the event which took place last Saturday, May 14th, is heavenly and awe-inspiring. The concert at Knock Basilica, hosted by the Mayo International Choral Festival was one of those rare opportunities for audiences to experience a truly once in a life-time event.
More details here

Mayo International Choral Festival are delighted to announce the attendance of The President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins at the Concert For Peace in the newly refurbished Knock Basilica on Saturday May 14th. The unprecedented scale of such a concert in this venue will see close to 200 artists perform on the night, all presented by lauded broadcaster, RTÉ Lyric FM’s Liz Nolan. Conductor extraordinaire David Brophy brings his impressive experience to proceedings, conducting this special event, which is in Association with the Western Development Commission and the Mayo Clinic.
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‘Sibeal’ to Perform Mise Eire at Knock Basilica Concert

Following her recent haunting and evocative performance during the ‘Centenary’ concert at Easter, as part of the National 1916 commemorations, the organisers of the ‘Concert For Peace’ at Knock Basilica were delighted when it was announced just after the concert that Sibeal Ni Chasaide is to be added to the stellar line up of performers on May 14^th.

Sibeal will perform, live with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Mise Eire, a new arrangement of Patrick Pearse’s 1912 poem set to music, which was composed by the respected composer Patrick Cassidy, who is related to Sibeal, and who will also attend the concert.
Hailing from the Gaeltacht in Rath Chairn, County Meath, Sibeal, at only 17 years of age, has been since stealing the hearts of the nation with Mise Eire released on the ‘1916: The Irish Rebellion’ soundtrack, and with her countless interviews on Radio and a recent performance on The Late Late Show.