Former Donaghmore pupils competing to become Ireland's best choir

An Cór Gaelach, an All-Ireland award-winning choir whose members are all past pupils of St Joseph’s Convent Grammar School in Donaghmore is among 12 choirs from across Ireland taking part in the new series of Curfá, the search for Ireland’s Best Choir 2026.

Produced by Tyrone Productions and presented by Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, the eight-week series will see choirs from across the country compete for the title, with just three progressing to the grand finale, where they will perform alongside special guest performers.

The winning choir will receive a €5,000 prize and the opportunity to perform on stage with The Hothouse Flowers.

The heats take place in some of Ireland’s most striking venues, including the Aula Maxima at Maynooth University, St Columb’s Hall in Derry, Druid Theatre in Galway and St Flannan’s Cathedral in Killaloe. The final will take place at St Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare town.

In each episode, the choirs will perform two songs before two groups go head-to-head in a chorus-off, battling to get one step closer to being crowned the nation’s favourite choir.

The competing choirs represent communities from across Ireland, from Belfast to Limerick and Donegal to Dublin. The youngest choir in the competition is Cashel Community School Choir, while Derry’s Hive Cancer Support Choir is the most senior group.

Each choir brings its own story and musical identity to the competition. Quire Belfast, the first and only LGBTQ+ choir in the North of Ireland, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The Buoys of Ballisodare, meanwhile, bring the tradition of shanty singing from Sligo to the series.

Other choirs hoping to take home the title include Airneán, an all-male seven-piece a cappella group whose members met in college in Maynooth; Fabre Ensemble, a Dublin-based chamber choir; and Glór Eile, an all-female Dublin-based group that reworks pop songs in its distinctive a cappella style.

With performances spanning traditional Irish music, choral, jazz, pop and gospel, the series promises a wide variety of musical styles and something for audiences of all tastes.

The choirs will face a distinguished judging panel comprising returning judge Colm Ó Foghlú and new judges Bernie Pháid Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Séamus Ó Flatharta. Special guest judges Pádraig Jack and Dónall Mac Ruairí will also feature in the series.