Rosin To Be Cheerful Pt 2025

U10 Piano Solo Winners 2025

aving returned with a mighty forte in 2023 and 2024, the Kilcoole Music Festival is back on song once again for 2025.

And that means they’re putting out the call for any young musicians from near agus far who’d like to be part of the county’s – and one of the country’s – longest-running music love-ins.

The Kilbride Cup winners 2024

Founded by district nurse Mary Kieran back in 1955, the festival was merely half-a-day back then, but has now grown to six days of vocal, choral, instrumental and orchestra music, along with speech and drama too.

On their official website, they state, ‘the aim of the Kilcoole Music Festival is to provide a platform for children and adults to perform  in public. The Festival boasts performances of a very high standard and attracts some of the most highly qualified adjudicators in the country along with extremely talented competitors, both local and national‘.

Says festival committee member Mary Hanley, the hope is to boost entries, especially from local schools.

“The festival is a series of music competitions and there’s something for everyone!” she says. “Competitions range from vocal and choral to Instrumental including piano, strings, woodwind and brass, and also ensemble and orchestral competitions.

Tullamore Stage School Choir 2024

“So, if you’re a primary or secondary school teacher, a music school owner, a member of a community choir, a singer or a member of an orchestra, the Kilcoole Music Festival would love to welcome you this year.“

In response to growing demand, the organisers have now added an Official Festival Accompanist for Vocal Competitions only, excluding Choral Competitions.

Running from November 14th to 16th and 21st to 23rd, The Kilcoole Music Festival will be held at Coláiste Chraobh Abhann.

You can find out more right here, fill out your entry form here, and get in touch with the bould Mary here.