ARKLOW MUSIC FESTIVAL
1st to 9th March 2025
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Arklow Music Festival 2025 -
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1st to 9th March 2025
Arklow Music Festival is one of Ireland’s best known competitive music festivals (or feiseanna). For more than 50 years it has provided a platform for individual and group performers of all ages in music, speech and drama, composition and creative writing. We have a long tradition of engaging the services of distinguished adjudicators and while prizes are awarded all are winners by taking part. Held annually for nine days in March it was described in The Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland (2013) as ‘one of the largest events of its kind’. It has more than 150 competitions for singers, choirs, orchestras, and instrumentalists in string, woodwind, brass and piano categories. Our verse speaking events in both English and Irish are hugely popular and greatly supported by our local schools as are our Choral Verse, Action Poems, School Drama and Action Songs.
Many of our past competitors have now made their career as performers, actors, teachers or composers. While not everyone will aspire to be a professional performer, many who have taken part over the years can remember the experience and can be seen in our audience or at our Prize winners' Concert.
A festival such as this is expensive to run and we are most grateful to all our sponsors and those who support us in any way. Our festival also provides a number of overall awards and bursaries, many of which are announced and presented at our Prize winners' concert.
THE KENNEDY AWARD (Music Section)
Presented by the Dainty Bakery and the Wadden bursary of €500 presented by the Wadden Family
This Perpetual Award will be presented to the individual or group, who in the Music Section is deemed to have given an outstanding performance. The Award will be presented at the Prize winners’ Concert on Sunday 9th March 2025
THE CLAIRE KAVANAGH MEMORIAL CUP
This Perpetual Cup will be awarded to the Choir in the Primary School Section which, in the opinion of the adjudicator gives an especially meritorious performance. The Award will be presented at the Prize winners’ Concert on Sunday 9th March 2025
THE WILLIAM REDMOND CUP
This Perpetual Cup will be awarded to the Choir in the Post Primary School Section which, in the opinion of the adjudicator gives an especially meritorious performance. The Award will be presented at the Prize winners’ Concert on Sunday 9th March 2025
THE KEVIN O’LEARY & ANDREW ENRIQUEZ MEMORIAL CUP
Presented by Templerainey Youth Fun
JACKIE KAVANAGH CASH AWARD OF €125.00
This Perpetual Cup and Cash Award will be made to the competitor in Solo Singing competitions, under 18 years in competitions 1 to 8 that is deemed to have given an especially meritorious performance.
THE HARMONY TIMBER SOLUTION CUP
This award will be presented to the group in the Action Song section giving an outstanding performance. Due to Safety Regulations, 1st Prize Winners in competitions 22, 23, 24 and 25 will be judged by the Adjudicator and will not be asked to repeat their performance
The award will be presented at the Prize winners' Concert on Sunday 9th March 2025.
THE ARKLOW BAY HOTEL CUP
This Perpetual Cup will be presented to the competitor showing the greatest potential as a performer in competitions 75, 76, 77, 81 and 82.
Competitors will not be asked to repeat their performances for this award, which will be presented at the Prize winners’ Concert on Sunday 9th March 2025
THE HORSEMAN SILVER TROPHY
This Perpetual Challenge Cup will be presented to the competitor showing the greatest potential as a performer in Competitions 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73. Due to Safety Regulations, 1st Prize Winners will be judged by the adjudicator and will not be asked to repeat their performance. The Award will be presented at the Prize winners’ Concert on Sunday 9th March 2025
THE JASON DEMPSEY MEMORIAL CUP
First Prize: Silver Medal
Second Prize: Certificate
Winners of competitions 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 & 108 AUTOMATICALLY qualify to compete for this Award. Competition will be held on Friday of Festival Week.
THE CAPRI CUP
Winners of competitions 110 to 115 AUTOMATICALLY qualify to compete for this award. Competition will be held on Friday of Festival Week.
CORN GHLÓR NA NGAEL AN INBHIR MHÓIR (Arklow Glór Na nGael Cup)
Roghnóidh an moltóir an t-iarrthóir is fearr as comórtais 127 go 134 agus bronnfar Corn Ghlór na nGael air nó uirthi ag Coirmcheoil na mBuaiteoirí.
A winner from Competitions 127 to 134 will be chosen by the adjudicator and will be presented with the Glór na nGael Cup at the Prize winners’ Concert.
Corn Síoraí Mícheál Ó hAilpín (Michael Halpin Perpetual Trophy)
Roghnóidh an moltóir an t-iarrthóir is fearr as comórtais 135 go 140 agus bronnfar Corn Síorai Míchaeál Ó hAilpín air nó uirthi ag Coirmcheoil na mBuaiteoirí.
A winner from Competitions 135 to 140 will be chosen by the adjudicator and will be presented with the Michael Halpin Perpetual Trophy at the Prize winners’ Concert.
THE WILLIAM DOYLE MEMORIAL CUP
This Award will be presented to the group in the Choral Verse Speaking section giving an outstanding performance. Due to Safety Regulations, First Prize winners in competitions 143, 144, 145, 146 and 147 will be judged by the Adjudicator and will not be asked to repeat their performance. The Award will be presented at the Prize winners' Concert on Sunday 9th March 2025.
THE LIAM LOUGHLIN CUP
This Perpetual Cup will be presented to the Class / Group giving the best performance of an improvisation OR play written by a teacher or group member(s).
THE SR. MARY CONCEPTA Cup
This Perpetual Cup will be presented to the group that makes the most effective use of costume..
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