Why Custom Choir Trip to Ireland & Northern Ireland for Your Ensemble
Welcome to Ireland and Northern Ireland
A custom concert tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland will surely create memories for your ensemble to last a lifetime!Ireland and Northern Ireland are home to some of the most notable medieval castles and fortifications in the world. Your stay will provide your group with the incredible opportunity to see famous sites in both countries. Discover parts of Ireland less typically visited.Traditional Irish music has had a profound influence on modern music. Ireland has influenced both country and roots music in the United States, which in turn influenced modern rock music. Performers such as Enya, U2, James Galway, Van Morrison, and the cast of Riverdance all hail from Ireland. Ireland has not only produced incredibly talented musicians but is also a hub for artists from all over the world. The world premiere of George Frideric Händel’s Messiah took place in Dublin on April 13, 1742. Notably, each year musicians, actors, dancers, and visual artists flock to Ireland for the many festivals held here each summer.Enjoy a concert tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Bring your ensemble to experience all that these country have to offer as you share your music with local people.Performance Opportunities
DUBLIN
Dublin’s intimate flair, pedestrian-friendly streets, and setting on the banks of the River Liffey and Dublin Bay make it an ideal European destination. In 1988, Dublin celebrated its 1,000th anniversary as an Irish city with festivities and projects that restored many of its historic buildings and facades, and turned the famous Grafton Street into a pedestrian shopping thoroughfare. Although the name Dublin derives from the Gaelic “Dubh Linn” meaning “dark pool,” it is the city’s light and the lightheartedness of its people for which it is best known. Dublin is filled with music on street corners, in pubs and restaurants, and in churches and concerts halls. You can't go a block without melodies floating out from a doorway!BELFAST
Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, was once the home of the Irish linen industry, tobacco production, rope making and the world famous Harland and Wolff shipbuilders. It also was at the heart of the struggle for independence by the Irish. Today, Belfast remains a center for industry, the arts, higher education, and business. Although the city suffered during the period of conflict called the Troubles, it has since undergone a sustained period of calm and peace, free from the intense political violence of its former years. Expect warm welcomes and proud citizens during a visit to Belfast. The city is teeming with local music and you won't want to miss the chance to visit a restaurant in the evening to hear some authentic Belfast musicians!DERRY
Founded in the 6th century by St. Columba, Derry is the second largest city and port of Northern Ireland. Columba named the city “Doire” or “Oak Grove,” which was later anglicized as Derry. In 1613, the city was selected as a major plantation project organized by the London livery companies, and as a result it acquired the prefix London. In the same year, the walls of Derry were built to protect the town from the Gaelic chieftains in Donegal. A walk on the walls is a must for any visit to Derry, as they are among the best-preserved fortifications in Europe. Today the walls separate two communities, the Bogside (a Catholic ghetto) and Waterside (a Protestant enclave). Derry too now enjoys the advantages of the new peaceful atmosphere of Northern Ireland and its city center is once again lively and pleasant.FRIENDSHIP CONCERTS IN IRELAND
Our friendship concerts are a featured experience on our tours and are at the heart of our mission to foster cultural connections through music. We benefit from a vast international network in the choral world built over our thirty years' experience of helping choirs share their music both in the United States and abroad. Your choir will share a venue and a concert program with a host choir from the region. Your singers will have the chance to hear their host choir's repertoire (often showcasing local musical styles) and to share your own repertoire in turn. Fellowship time usually follows the friendship concert, giving both choirs the chance to mingle and enjoy the camaraderie of creating cross-cultural connections through a shared love of music.Sample Itinerary
Here's a recent itinerary we built. Your tour will be customized for your group's size, schedule, and musical goals.