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21 Oct 2025

Mayo International Choral Festival gears up for 2017

Mayo International Choral Festival gears up for 2017

MUSIC Organisers are delighted with the response to upcoming Mayo International Choral Festival, May 24 to May 28

INTERNATIONAL ATTRACTION ‘Lyra’, from St Petersburg, Russia, will take part in this year's Mayo International Choral Festival.

With interest from countries as diverse as Russia, Bulgaria, England and Sweden, the organisers are delighted with the response to upcoming Mayo International Choral Festival, which this year takes place from May 24 to May 28. The festival continues to grow in popularity and is now considered to be one of the top four choral events in Ireland.
The festival takes the form of visiting and local choirs participating in concerts, all over Mayo, as well as ‘pop-up’ choir performances on the streets and in public buildings, covering many genres, including Barbershop, Sacred Music, Pop, Gospel and Gaelic and Celtic language.
Many of the choirs take part in competitions, judged by a panel of renowned international adjudicators. All events, including the competitions, are open to a public audience.
The Saturday night Gala concert has now become one of the most popular nights out in the west. If last year’s sold out event is anything to go by, this year will be no exception with special guests soon to be announced. The Gala night features the Premier Competition when all the winning choirs from the competitions perform.
The festival has now become the point of contact for international choirs touring Europe and this October will see a choir from the Netherlands visit Mayo for several nights, facilitated by the Mayo International Choral Festival committee and volunteers.
Choirs who have participated have cited as attractions the fantastic historic venues with great acoustics that are peppered all over Mayo, the friendliness of the Mayo people, the stunning scenery, the efficient organisation and facilities of the festival and the relaxed atmosphere.

Key ingredients
Festival director Declan Durcan said festivals have to have several key ingredients for them to work.
“The executive committee, the choirs from Mayo, the hundreds of volunteers and main sponsors of Mayo County Council and FΡilte Ireland and local businesses, as well as the international and national visiting choirs and the loyal public audiences and local media all play their part.
“All this is mixed together in a melting pot that serves up a wonderful spectacle of song and music, alongside attractions and scenery that are second to none. It’s a massive team effort and is testament to what can be achieved by the county acting as a whole.”
Declan went on to say that the organisers are looking forward to the future of the festival and a new five-year development plan in now underway.
“The plan will be launched later this year, with input from all stakeholders. Our new Chairman is Frank Murray and he is really enjoying the role and we are delighted that he is on board.”
After five years the previous chairman and founder Edward Horkan stepped down from the role and has been appointed Honorary President.
While entry for international choirs to the 2017 festival is now closed, the entry deadline for choirs from Ireland has been extended to January 31, by request from several choirs.
Entry forms available from www.mayochoral.com, info@mayochoral.com or by phoning 094 9023040.

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