Limerick to come alive with the sound of singing

  • Unity Gospel Choir
Unity Gospel Choir Limerick performing at the launch of the 2016 Limerick Sings International Choral Festival. Picture: Oisin McHugh

Limerick is set to resonate with the sound of music across three days next weekend as choirs from all over the world and Ireland come together for the Limerick Sings International Choral Festival 2016.

Now in its forth year, the festival, presented by Campus Life Services and University Concert Hall, was established to attract visiting choirs of all traditions and nationalities to Limerick for a weekend of festive, non-competitive singing in some of the city’s wonderful venues, providing exceptional choral entertainment to local audiences.

As in previous years many of the visiting choirs stay for additional days around the festival to explore all the region has to offer including the Wild Atlantic Way, Bunratty Castle, Killarney and Dublin, providing a great boost to tourism in Ireland.

Gillian Costelloe, Sales & Marketing Manager, Campus Life Services says “we are delighted to receive support again this year from Fáilte Ireland. This support has enabled us to grow the festival with numbers this year almost double that of 2015. The support of agencies like Fáilte Ireland, RTÉ Supporting the Arts and Karen Brosnahan, Shannon Conference and Sports Bureau, is invaluable to the growth and prosperity of the region as a musical, conference and events destination.”

The Festival has also joined forces with Irish woman, Zoe Franciscus, now based in Seattle who is a partner in Perform International, a leading music tour company which brings choirs and orchestras all over the world on tours and to international festivals. Zoe says, “Limerick is an ideal base for me to use to bring visiting choirs to Ireland because the city offers great music venues and an attractive centre for touring the west of Ireland. And, of course, access is so easy through Shannon airport.”  

Limerick Sings Festival weekend will host three concerts in stunning venues around Limerick City and County.

The Opening Concert will be held on Friday 10th June (8.15pm) in The Redemptorist Church (Mount St. Alphonsus), with local, national and international choirs performing a diverse programme of traditional and folk songs as well as works by Palestrina, Elgar and Bach. 

On Saturday 11th June (8pm) the Gala Concert takes place in University Concert Hall featuring Shakespeare in Song by the New Dublin Voices, Jenkins’ The Armed Man by Limerick Choral Union, as well as a joint performance of Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass by the Perform International Festival Choir, accompanied by the Limerick Chamber Players, under the baton of acclaimed, international conductor Dr. Jeffrey Benson.

Sunday 12th June (3.30pm) will see the Festival coming to a rousing conclusion with an afternoon Sunday Proms in the Holy Trinity Abbey Church in the picturesque village of Adare. The Proms will feature a delightful programme of folk, traditional and gospel songs as well as contemporary favourites by Billy Joel and Abba.

“This year’s Limerick Sings Festival offers an abundant choice of choral music styles, with three very different concerts in three beautiful venues. There really is something for everyone and we hope that Limerick audiences will come out to welcome and support both our local and visiting choirs over the course of the weekend” said Sinead Hope, Director of UCH.

Participating Choirs include Aragon High School, Granbury High School Choir, Napa Valley College, Presentation High School, Bella Voce, Resounding Achord, San Jose State University Choraliers and West Valley College (Perform International Festival Choir - USA), Granbury High School Choir (USA), Cór Cois Abhann (Cork), Korena Spontana (Sweden), New Dublin Voices (Dublin), Ancór, Limerick Choral Union, Unity Gospel Choir Limerick & Voices of Limerick (Limerick).

Tickets: 

Opening Concert - The Redemptorist Church €10

Gala Concert - University Concert Hall,  €12 & Conc. €10

Sunday Proms - Holy Trinity Abbey Church Adare €10

All 3 Concerts: €24

Concert Booking: +353 61 331549 / www.uch.ie

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Treaty Stone Limerick. Photo Piotr Machowczyk