We are delighted to announce the twelve school music groups (six primary and six post-primary) selected to perform as Finalists in the 2026 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert on Monday, 18 May 2026 in the National Concert Hall.

  • Primary Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Bunscoil Loreto, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Danescastle National School, Carrig on Bannow, Co. Wexford
Newcastle National School, Athenry, Co. Galway
St. Brigid's National School, Tooreen, Co. Mayo
St. Marnock's National School, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin
St. Teresa’s National School, Killoe, Co. Longford

  • Post-Primary Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Coláiste De Lacy, Ashbourne, Co. Meath
De La Salle College, Dundalk, Co. Louth
East Glendalough School, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow
Mountrath Community School, Mountrath, Co. Laois
Skibbereen Community School, Skibbereen, Co. Cork
St. Mary’s Secondary School, Macroom, Co. Cork

There was a huge response from schools around the country when this year's Competition was
announced, and the closing date on March 20th saw a deluge of entries flooding in from schools in
eighteen different counties. Our first-round adjudicators were enormously impressed by the high
standard of entries this year and the imagination, musicality and effort evident in each. They had their
work cut out for them in selecting just twelve Finalist groups (six primary and six post-primary) to perform
in the Finalists Concert.

The twelve qualifying groups will perform in the 2026 Music for Schools Finalists Concert, when our 2026
guest adjudicators Aedín Gormley and Paul Noonan, and competition co-director Aideen Walton, will
select three primary and three post-primary groups to win First, Second and Third prizes of €2,000, €1,000
and €500 vouchers (respectively) for musical instruments and equipment for their schools from Waltons
Music Ireland. The other Finalist groups will receive €200 vouchers.

The first-round adjudicators have also singled out groups that were not selected but are of particular merit
as Commended, Highly Commended or Very Highly Commended. A list of these schools, along with the
Finalists, is now available here and commended schools will receive certificates
for all participants in acknowledgement of their achievements.

The Finalists Concert will be live webcast from the National Concert Hall by RTÉ lyric fm and can be
watched in Ireland and around the world.