This winter, the senior choirs of CBS Secondary School Kilkenny and Loreto Kilkenny are embarking on a journey of a lifetime to Bratislava, Slovakia!

CBS Secondary School Kilkenny and Loreto Kilkenny will form a joint SATB choir which will compete in the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music 2023, from December 7th-10th.

Both choirs are under the guidance and tutelage of Ms. Mandy Dowling and Ms. Lorraine Maher, Choir Directors at CBS Secondary School Kilkenny and Loreto Kilkenny respectively.

Loreto Kilkenny and CBS Secondary School Kilkenny are running a joint fundraiser to support our combined choirs with their trip to the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in Bratislava in December 2023. We will represent our schools with pride and distinction and your support will help defray some of the costs of transport, accommodation and meals while abroad. 

The funds raised will go towards the following:

• Bus transfers to and from the airport (on both sides).
• Crested hoodies/jumpers for students.
• Administration fees for competition.

Donors can be assured that ALL funds raised will go exclusively to supporting the two school choirs.

With your help, these two Kilkenny schools can continue to spread the joy of choral music to all, in the spirit of the strongly-rooted music tradition among their student bodies.

We hope that you can support our cause. To donate, simply click the "Donate" button. All donations are processed securely. You can also share this page by clicking the "Share" button, this is a great way to show your support.

Many thanks for your support.

Our History of Musical Collaborations

The musical collaborations between Loreto Kilkenny and CBS Secondary School Kilkenny go back to the early 1990s. 

The two schools often combine their talent in joint whole-school events, concerts and musicals. Generations of students have formed life long friendships and precious memories while making music together.

Many members of this Bratislava Youth Choir have participated in our 2021/22 TY musical “Footloose”. The following year, CBS Secondary School Kilkenny and Loreto Kilkenny performed their version of “Legally Blonde”. 

This year, we are anticipating another great success as TY students from both our schools prepare to take “Hairspray” to the stage.

Choral Music in CBS Secondary School Kilkenny

Our choirs have represented the school with distinction at the Kilkenny Music Festival, where we have been the recipient of the Rena Brett Memorial Cup for Male Voice Choirs, 1st place in the Post Primary School Chamber Choir Competition and the Rev. CJ. Sherin Perpetual Trophy.

Our senior choir reached the final of the RTÉ All-Island Choir Competition in 2014 with their renditions of "Softly As I Leave You" and "What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor?". Our senior choir has been featured on the Lyric FM Choirs For Christmas Programme with their rendition of "Mary, Did You Know?".

Most recently, our senior choir scooped the Frank Hughes Cup for Boys Choirs at the 2023 Wesley Interschools Music Festival.

Choral Music in Loreto Kilkenny

Choir is available to all students in every year group. Loreto Kilkenny is immensely proud of what their students have achieved on the music front.

The Senior Choir won gold in the Bratislava International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in 2017 and 2019.

The Senior Choir won the Rathdown Cup for SSA Choirs, and the 5th Year Choir won the William G. Kirkpatrick Cup for 4-Part Girls Choir in the Wesley Interschools Choir competition in 2023.

The Loreto Kilkenny Orchestra and Choir composed and performed the Loreto anthem "She" in 2022, in collaboration with Kilkenny-based band Burnchurch. The anthem was professionally recorded to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Loreto Order in Ireland by Sister Francis Theresa Ball.