The 71st Cork International Choral Festival is under way in Cork city this bank holiday weekend, with over 5,000 competitors taking part in competitions for all ages.
Among those competing are choirs from across the country as well as from 13 countries including Australia, Canada, Norway and the UK.
Artistic Director Peter Stobart said he believes the festival - one of the oldest and most highly regarded choral festivals in Europe - remains popular because it combines high competition standards with fun events.
"I think everyone likes the competitions to start with. I think they know the standard is high so they want to be part of that.
"And also, it is the meeting of other choirs whether it is national or international choirs and there is such a buzz when choirs come together, and we send the choirs in pairs to do other concerts so they are always with another choir, so it is a great vibe," Mr Stobart said.
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Over the five days of the festival, there are competitions for all ages, as well as workshops, and gala concerts.
This includes tonight's Fleischmann International Gala concert where audiences will get the opportunity to hear some of the world's top amateur choirs.
The ever popular Choral Trail saw choirs perform at Fota House and Gardens, at Christ Church in Cobh, and at the Marina Market today where 17 choirs, including RockaVox from Norfolk in the UK, brought the joy of choral singing to a delighted public.
RockaVox Artistic Director Tiggy Spalding said the choir loves coming to Cork.
"It feels like the musical capital of the world when we come here. It is so inviting, it is so welcoming, everybody is very, very kind and it is just such an amazing atmosphere," Ms Spalding said.
Tomorrow is the final day of the festival.
Visiting choirs will perform at many of the city's churches including St Anne's Church in Shandon and St Colman's Cathedral in Cork with choirs from Wales, Germany, Belgium, Estonia, the UK and Canada as well as Ireland performing at tomorrow night's closing Gala Concert at Cork's City Hall.
