HIGH NOTES: KILCOOLE MUSIC FESTIVAL IS OFF TO A FLYING START

KILCOOLE Music Festival is under way in the village, with musicians coming from all over the region to participate.

This is the 62nd annual music festival, with competitions taking place over two weekends at St Patrick’s Hall and Colaiste Craobh Abhann.

This is one of the oldest and most renowned Music Festivals in the country.

Since its inception back in 1955 by the District Nurse at the time, Mary Kieran, the festival has grown from a half day of competitions to its present day format with six days of competitions in vocal, choral, instrumental and orchestral music and speech and drama also.

The aim of the Kilcoole Music Festival is to provide a platform for children and adults to perform in public. The Festival boasts performances of a very high standard and attracts some of the most highly qualified adjudicators in the country along with extremely talented competitors, both local and national.

The coming weekend’s competitions will include violin, recorder, piano, guitar and singing categories, choral categories, and more.

The adjudicators are Professor Reamonn Keary, Niamh Murray, Sarah Bradley, and Dr Annette Cleary.

Festival accompanists are Sandra Ganly and Evelyn Hearns.

The competitors in the Corn na Leanaí for Irish solo singing under eight.

Adjudicator Niamh Murray with the winner of the Corn Na Leanaí for Irish solo under eight, Cecilia Henderson, Daniel Pan (second place) and Riain Shannon (third place).

Amy Ledwidge, who came second in the Acorn Cup, with her brother Eoin.

Callum Gilmartin, who came second in the Hawthorn Cup for verse speaking, and his brother Ryan.

Blaithín Keating and Rose Watson, who were both highly commended in the under seven verse speaking.