It's all about festive cheer on RTÉ lyric fm with almost 100 Choirs from all around Ireland joining in the annual Choirs for Christmas celebration of amateur choral music making. This year's entrants to Ireland's largest choral compeition come from choirs from every province of Ireland from the Killorglin Singers in Kerry to the Tulsk Parish Singers, Roscommon, Moate Community School Choir in Westmeath to Carrickfergus Grammar School, Co. Antrim, Gortnor Abbey Choir, Mayo to the Village Voices of Narraghmore, Kildare and entries span the island from St Pius X College Choir, Derry to St. Finbarr’s BNS, Bantry, West Cork.

We have mapped the entrants view here: Choirs for Christmas 2023 – Google My Maps

All kinds of choirs took over the airwaves on Evelyn Grant’s Weekend Drive, Saturday and Sunday from 4pm on RTÉ lyric fm. In the Christmas stocking were folk, gospel, church, school, college and workplace choirs and all kinds of choral groups who simply love coming together to sing!

The winners were announced on Christmas Eve on Evelyn Grant's Weekend Drive (See below)

The Jury for the competition:

Gail Henry (RTÉ lyric fm, Chair)

Richard Yarr (BBC)

Patrick Barrett (Youth Chorus Director Royal Scottish National Orchestra)

Kate Daly (Sing Ireland),

Evelyn Grant (RTÉ lyric fm)

We are delighted to announce the winners of the Choirs for Christmas 2023 competition:

SING IRELAND CHORAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT: Jilly Powell, teacher at St. Mary's CBS School Choir, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary


BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CONTEMPORARY IRISH CHORAL WORK: Belfast Philharmonic Youth Choir conducted by Lynsey Callaghan for a performance ofCome and Sing by Seán Doherty


BEST PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR: Our Lady Queen of Peace Choir, Janesboro, Limerick with teachers James Malone, Úna Ryan Carmody, and Orla Bourke Maguire


SPECIAL COMMENDATION AWARD: Saint Brigid's National School, Castleknock, Dublin 15 conducted by Niamh Williams


BEST SECONDARY SCHOOL CHOIR: CBS Loreto Kilkenny Senior Choir conducted by Mandy Dowling and Lorraine Maher


BEST YOUTH CHOIR: Limerick Youth Choir, conducted by Maire Keary-Scanlon


BEST COMMUNITY CHOIR: The Dublin Gay Men's Chorus, choral director David O'Shea


BEST CHORAL SOCIETY CHOIR: Grosvenor Chorale, Belfast, conducted by Edward Craig


BEST OVERALL RUNNERS UP: Dublin Youth Choir Singers conducted by Lynsey Callaghan


BEST OVERALL CHOIR : Lux Brumalis, Dublin conducted by David Yau


We will be directly in touch with the winners in early January 2023.

Thank you for sharing some wonderful music with RTE lyric fm this Christmas!