Tipperary school choir to feature on TG4 competition against Limerick and Ennis groups

Cashel Community School Choir are to feature in the latest series of Cúrfa, TG4’s search for the best choir in Ireland 2026.

Over eight weeks, judges will narrow 12 amazing choirs down to just three who will perform in the grand finale with some very special guest performers.

The heats take place in stunning locations around the country; the Aula Maxima in Maynooth University, St Columb's Hall, Derry. Druid Theatre Galway, and St Flannan's Cathedral Killaloe, that combinate with the finals happening in St Brigid's Cathedral in Kildare town.

In each episode, the choirs will sing two songs, each before two of the choirs battle it out in a ‘chorus-off’ to get one step closer to the ultimate accolade of being the nation’s favourite. It’s all in a bid to win the amazing prize of €5000 and the chance to sing on stage with one of Ireland's biggest bands, “The Hothouse Flowers”.

Cashel Community School choir will feature in the second episode, to be aired on the 1st of November. The choir is a voluntary non-auditioned group who sing together when they can.

“Schools are very busy places so to get 30 singers together for rehearsals is a real achievement, so please congratulate the students on that” said a spokesperson.

“We have just had a very successful musical ‘Westend to Broadway’ where the students performed a selection of hits from 16 iconic musicals – another great achievement! We are presently getting ready for our school carol service and then will see what 2026 brings us.”

Joining Cashel Community School Choir in the second episode are Limerick Gospel Choir and Vocal Ponies from Ennis. Limerick Gospel Choir has around 35 members and is Limerick’s oldest Gospel choir. The choir is committee-led and has a wide age-range of members, including their longest serving member, Marianne who has been with the choir since the very beginning, nearly 22 years!

Paul, who was their pianist since 2016, became the choir’s new director last year. Paul has introduced a new style of modern, spiritual Gospel music to the choir with a lot of new songs, and the choir is embracing the new challenge! Paul is certainly putting his own stamp on the choir and seeing how far they can go as a group, making it a pivotal moment for the choir as they enter their new modern gospel era.

Meanwhile The Vocal Ponies are a mixed 90s pop-choir from Ennis, who formed as part of a warm-up act of the Circus Ponies band (15 members). The choir has performed at local events, choral festivals.

While it’s not an audition-choir, the singers have been selected to come together, and only being a newly formed choir (2024), performing means a great deal to them and getting positive feedback drives them to keep getting better and better.

Jessica, the conductor, brings high-energy to the group and they rehearse every Thursday. Their repertoire is the best of the 90s, from Moby to Cranberries, Nirvana to Meatloaf and the Corrs. Their costumes often include red shoulder pads so they look the part.

They performed at ReWild Festival, as the Circus Ponies were performing at the festival last year. They have a great attitude and are willing to take on any challenge (including this competition with one week’s notice!)

They share one aim: to impress the new panel of judges, Colm Ó Foghlú, Bernie Pháid and Séamus Ó Flatharta, with special guest judges Pádraig Jack and Dónall Mac Ruairí.

Returning to the judge’s chair, Composer, director, writer and producer, Colm Ó Foghlú has toured extensively throughout Australia, Europe, Asia and North America. A former Musical Director for Riverdance, he has composed, arranged and produced numerous award-winning shows and albums.