Enniscorthy Choral Society is an amateur mixed voice ensemble of auditioned singers from Enniscorthy and the surrounding area.

United by a commitment to provide a music resource for Enniscorthy, the choral society through its efforts aim to encourage a singing tradition, to develop performances of the highest standards and, to stimulate greater appreciation and enjoyment of choral music.

Founded in September 1993 by Liam and Sheelagh O’Laoghaire, Enniscorthy Choral Society has been under the musical direction of Donagh Wylde since its inception. The goal, then and now, is to promote the singing and enjoyment of choral music.

The choir rehearse once a week and at present have 48 members (2006/07). Enjoying great support from local audiences and the community at large, we are especially fortunate to have the patronage of a main sponsor, WFC Oil Limited.

Available to sing for important occasions and municipal events in our community’s life, the choir usually organise one fundraising event for a worthy charity or not-for-profit organisation each year.

The Choral Society balance hard work with many social activities. These include pub sessions after rehearsal, members & friend’s gatherings, trips away and various other social events throughout the year.

The choir’s repertoire is varied, covering many musical periods and genres including secular & sacred classical forms; popular, modern & jazz; traditional, folk & world music; gospel; Irish and Christmas compositions.

Enniscorthy Choral Society member together with our music director are committed to the constant improvement of the ensemble singing through voice production methods and exploring alternative methods of musical expression and interpretation. To this end choir members participate in regular music education workshops.

While being instructed by our own music director Donagh, the choir have also undertaken several intensive workshops with a variety of well known conductors; these include Lubmir Matl (Prague Chamber Choir), John Rutter (Composer & Conductor), Micheál McCarthy (Lecturer in Music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University, Perth) and Blathnaid Murphy (Cór na nÓg).

In the early years Enniscorthy Choral Society competed in local competitions such as Arklow and New Ross and took part in many concerts, church services and fundraising events, including the annual Springtime Concert organised by the Enniscorthy Lions Club.

The choir has sung with some very well known performers over the years, including Ronan Tynan, Anthony Kearns (The Irish Tenors), Roisin Dempsey (Annuna), Emmanuel Lawlor, Regina Nathan, and Mathew Gilsenan.

Most recently, Enniscorthy Choral Society has competed in Cork and Sligo International Choral Festivals, North Wales Choral Festival (Llandudno), Prague Cantat 2004, and performed in the International Advent Sings Festival in Vienna, Austria in 2006.

Enniscorthy Choral Society have won many awards including a silver medal and a special award for folk song interpretation in Prague Cantat 2004, 2nd and 4th places in the Open National Competition in the Cork International Choral Festival 2006 and 2007, 1st place in both the Open and Madrigal Competitions in the Arklow Choral Festival in 2005 and 2007.

Finally, we hope you will find this website clear and informative. Enniscorthy Choral Society’s driving force is the love of music. We hope our continued efforts will stimulate greater appreciation and enjoyment of choral music within the community and beyond.