Music Department

St Canice’s Cathedral Choir consists of approximately twenty singers drawn from Kilkenny City and beyond. The Choir provides music for liturgies in the stunning surroundings of St Canice’s Cathedral, allowing the singers to explore the choral repertoire in its great diversity. The Choir has appeared on television and radio broadcasts, gives concerts, and engages in community-based activities.

There has been a musical foundation of one sort or another at St Canice’s Cathedral since the twelfth century. The Vicars Choral played a vital role in the musical life of the Cathedral for most of its history and the ups and downs of much of the choir’s history is reflected in the various turmoil of the Cathedral itself. Musical life of the medieval cathedral close was a colourful one. A fine example can be found in the Red Book of Ossory (dating from about 1324) which contains sixty Latin verses, or Cantilenae, written by Richard de Ledrede, Bishop of Ossory. Of these Cantilenae, Ledred writes that they were composed "for the Vicars Choral of Kilkenny Cathedral, his priests and clerics, to be sung on great festivals and other occasions, that their throats and mouths, sanctified to God, might not be polluted with theatrical, indecent, and secular songs." Later in history, The vicars choral were mentioned in the 1615 Regal Visitation which noted that "in the College near the Church [of St. Canice] are eight Vicars Choral and four Choristers, who are bound to serve the Cathedral Church at Divine Services daily.” St Canice’s Cathedral Vicars Choral always maintained a strong connection to the Foundation of Kilkenny College and it is a tradition which the Cathedral and Choir foster to this day. 

Many renowned organists, composers and musicologists have passed though the choir stalls of St Canice’s. Notably, George William Torrance who, reportedly, “After Robert Prescott Stewart, [Torrance] was arguably the most accomplished Irish church musician of his generation". He was a composer, organist, singer, clergyman, and a pioneer of ethno-musicology. Most recently, Malcolm Proud, acclaimed-international harpsichordist and organist, has been the Organist and Master of Choristers at St Canice’s Cathedral.

The Choir of St Canice’s Cathedral is the only of its kind in the surroundings of County Kilkenny. Choir has appeared on a number of RTÉ TV and Radio Productions, most recently Carols from the Castle (2019), and RTÉ Christmas Day broadcast (2020). The choir has a number of exciting upcoming projects and auditions for the choir are held throughout the year.  

If you would like to join the choir please email music@stcanicescathedral.com.