Moate cs wins all island school choir competition

Moate Community School was announced as the winner of the All Island School Choir Compeition 2014 on Saturday night last.
Broadcast live on RTÉ One and streamed worldwide on RTÉ.ie, the grand final saw four schools compete in front of an invited audience at Titanic Belfast, which included the Minister of Education for Northern Ireland John O’Dowd MLA and Minister of Education and Skills in the Republic of Ireland Jan O’Sullivan T.D., who jointly presented the trophy to the winning school.
Organised by Co-operation Ireland, in association with RTÉ, the All Island School Choir Competition, presented by Anne Cassin, forms a five-part television series celebrating and encouraging the tradition of choral music in second-level schools throughout Ireland.
Following the announcement, Moate CS choir director Lorna Duignan said: “I am very proud of this choir. I would like to thank RTÉ, Co-operation Ireland and especially Tommie Gorman for giving us the opportunity to participate at this level. We would not be here without the amazing support and encouragement from parents, staff and management. In particular our Principal Tom Lowry and our Deputy Principals, Maura Murray and Carmel McCormack.
“I would also like to thank all in our Music Department, especially Giselle Foley, Annemarie Farrell and Ciarán Brady. The students have worked tirelessly and it is their talent, commitment and enthusiasm that makes it so enjoyable and worthwhile. So again, we are very proud of them!”
Mayor Frankie Keena congratulated the choir, saying: “It was with great pride to see these students performing on RTÉ last Sunday night. To see familiar faces representing their school, town and county with passion, enthusiasm and excellence was very emotive. The competition was tough but the confidence and high standard of the performance by the Moate students made it easy for the adjudicators to make their decision.”

* See this week’s Westmeath Independent for full report and photos