Music and song were in the air on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th November at The Lark, in Balbriggan, as many local school choirs performed in the Fingal Festival of Schools’ Voices. Schools from Lusk, Rush, Loughshinny and Balbriggan were joined by the The Lark’s own resident school The Irish Institute of Music & Song who played traditional Irish music on the harp.

The festival has its originated in 2017 as St. Catherine’s Choral Festival in Rush, so it was fitting that on Tuesday 5th November both the St Catherine’s School Choir and the Ukulele Orchestra performed several songs at the venue. During the evening the audience heard renditions of many popular songs by acts as The Rolling Stones, Coldplay and the Pixies. Additionally, two schools performed songs by Oasis – no doubt reflecting the recent revival in interest since the announcement of their reunion tour. The good news was that two different songs were chosen, Live Forever and Wonderwall!

Rush Musical Society Concert at St Catherine’s National School

Later the same week, with barely time to rest their voices, the St Catherine’s School Choir and Ukulele Orchestra performed again on Friday 8th November in the St Catherine’s School Hall with The Rush Musical Society. The audience were delighted with performances by all three groups, including songs from the 1970s, 80s and 90s performed by the Rush Musical Society.

The highlight of the evening was the collaborative performance when the adults’ and children’s voices joined forces to perform Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Vaults of Heaven.