The organising committee are delighted that THE SLIGO CHAMPION and FAILTE IRELAND NORTH-WEST have come on board again, as our major commercial sponsors and the organising committee look forward to working with them again this year.

We are also indebted to The Arts Council, Sligo Borough Council and Sligo County Council for their financial assistance, not forgetting our ever-loyal and generous local sponsors, patrons and advertisers.

“The youth of today are the adults of tomorrow” - so with that in mind and with the success of the youth and school choirs competitions in 2008, we have added even more competitions for these categories in 2009. In fact, two new confined competitions have been added for schools in Co. Sligo.

The competitive element of the Festival will move to THE MERCY COLLEGE and the nearby ST. ANNE’S CHURCH – 47 Choirs taking part in 16 competitions over 2 days for €8,500.00 in prizemoney and many splendid trophies.

The Opening Concert on Friday, November 13th, will feature among others, the 100-strong TULLAMORE GOSPEL CHOIR, MARY DORAN (Soprano), the massed school choirs from that afternoon’s masterclass and ARO KIM, 16 year-old Korean student, a classically-trained pianist and a pupil of The Mercy College in Sligo.

We look forward to welcoming participating choirs from all parts of Ireland together with The Kempten Kammerchor from our twin-town in Germany. Notable entries this year are the 100-member Tullamore Gospel Choir, The Munster Rugby Supporters Choir and “Gloria” – Dublin’s Lesbian and Gay Choir.

As usual, choirs will entertain shoppers on the Saturday and will enhance the various religious services on the Sunday.

SLIGO INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL, can be contacted at the following address

I.T.S.B.I.C., Business Innovation Centre, Institute of Technology Campus, Ballinode, Sligo, Ireland

Telephone/Fax. 00353 71 91 38791 and 00353 86 2592290