Preview by Brad Balfour, Arts Editor
As I was preparing this piece, I got an email inviting me to the Town Hall (123 W.43rd At.) for The Town Hall Café experience It brought together a mix of local partners and artists who reflect the creativity and community of New York City. Buunni Coffee provided a coffee pop-up to the Hall offering free drinks to visitors including me. The Drama Book Shop had a selection of books and theatre treasures for sale.
Throughout the day, guests such as myself explored the historic building and also enjoyed a free public performance by Troy Anthony ,who has a choir which will performing again next month in a Brooklyn church. Ironic that I got to see and hear a small choir performing jubilantly through the power of the human voice (and one portable keyboard).
Ironic that I should see that show in light of this announcement about the Irish television series, Cúrfa, which returns for another season. The show searches for the best choir in Ireland for the year of 2026. Produced by Tyrone Productions and presented by the beautiful Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, Curfá runs over eight weeks, As the show narrows down the 12 amazing choirs who serves as contestants, it winnows them down to just three. They then will perform in the grand finale with some very special guests.
The competition take place in stunning locations around the country ranging from the Aula Maxima in Maynooth University, St Columb’s Hall in Derry, Galway’s Druid Theatre and Killaloe’s St Flannan’s Cathedral. The finals happen in Kildare town’s St Brigid’s Cathedral.
In each episode, the choirs sings two songs each, before two of the choirs battle it out in a “chorus-off” to get one step closer to the ultimately being the nation’s favorite. It’s all in a bid to win the amazing prize of €5000 and a chance to sing on stage with one of the Ireland’s biggest bands — The Hothouse Flowers.
The choirs hail from all over the country, from Belfast to Limerick, and Donegal to Dublin. Our youngest choir are Cashel Community School’s Choir and the most senior choir are the Hive Cancer Support Choir from Derry. There are many stories behind some of the choirs. Quire Belfast is the first and only LGBTQ+ choir based in Ireland’s North, celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. Their members come from across Ulster to the Buoys of Balisodare Shanty Singing group which is based in Sligo.
An Cór Gaelach is an All-Ireland award-winning choir whose members have all been past pupils of St Joseph’s Convent Grammar School in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone. Airneán are an all-male seven piece a cappella choir who met in college in Maynooth, Fabre Ensemble are a Dublin based chamber choir; Glór Eile is an all-female Dublin based group who rework pop songs into their distinctive a cappella style.
The songs are performed to suit all audiences and tastes in this series, including traditional, choral, jazz, pop and gospel. They’re united by one aim — to impress the new panel of judges Colm Ó Foghlú, Bernie Pháid and Séamus Ó Flatharta, with special guest judges Pádraig Jack and Dónall Mac Ruairí.
Returning to the judge’s chair, composer, director, writer and producer Ó Foghlú has toured extensively throughout Australia, Europe, Asia and North America. A former “Riverdance” Musical Director, he has composed, arranged and produced numerous award-winning shows and albums. As a co-director of Ember Productions, he created a range of critically acclaimed performances including Stones, Bones and Beckett in the Fourknocks Neolithic Passage Tomb in Meath, Frozen Music in St. Mary’s Medieval Abbey in Dublin and Scoring the Stone, a commission from the World Archaeological Congress, Dublin 2008.
In addition to his work as a composer/producer, he wrote and directed his award-winning first short film “Suanscéal” and also presented/arranged it. He was the music producer on an eight-part TV series “Pitch Perfect” for TG4 and Good Company Productions. He also contributes scripts and composes music for RTÉ’s series Tír na nÓg.
The first of the new judges this year, Pháid Ní Mhuircheartaigh hails from the Dingle Peninsula, with roots firmly planted in the area’s tradition. Bilingual singer and musician Pháid is a welcome contributor to the vibrant music of this culturally rich area. Her music reflects a heartfelt love of culture and song and there is a delicate sweetness in her delivery of songs. Bernie’s latest offering “Síol,” sees this engaging artist reach out to find her voice in the hills of Appalachia, all the time drawing deep from the ancient musical well. In her wide-ranging repertoire, she manages to combine achingly honest ballads with uplifting, rootsy numbers, all the while captivating the audience with her effortless warmth. Her graceful interpretations of songs resonate deeply. Bernie has collaborated with many well-known musicians including Pauline Scanlon, Donogh Hennessey, Steve Cooney, Mary Black, Luka Bloom, Mama Kin, Shane Howard, Liam Ó Maonlaí and Tony Small.
Singer, dancer and multi-instrumentalist Ó Flatharta hails from Áird Mór in Connemara. Born into a family steeped in the Irish tradition, Ó Flatharta was immersed in traditional Irish music and song. From a young age, he has been making waves in the fields of music, song and dance across the globe; performing in China, The USA, Canada, The United Kingdom and throughout mainland Europe. He is highly sought after for his versatility and skill in each of his disciplines, and has been seen performing alongside many renowned groups and ensembles throughout the years such as Cherish the Ladies, The RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Riverdance.
Ó Flatharta has performed at prestigious festivals across the globe, recently as a guest musician on the 25th Anniversary Tour of “Riverdance” at The 3 Arena, Dublin and New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. Accumulating a total of 23 All Ireland Titles since he was seven, Ó Flatharta has performed alongside the finest ambassadors of Irish Music on numerous tours and has contributed to multiple albums to date. In 2023, he released his debut EP ‘Séamus & Caoimhe” which was produced by Brian Whelan and Riverdance composer Bill Whelan. Séamus and Caoimhe are the recipients of the RTÉ Folk Award for ‘Best Emerging Artists’ 2024 and also the Ceoltóirí Óga na Bliana Awards at Gradam Ceoil TG4 2026.
Over the weeks, audiences will hear from the country’s very best choirs on the stage, between young and old, as they perform a wide range of musical genres; traditional Irish music, choral music, gospel music, jazz and more. Who will win the ultimate accolade of Ireland’s Best Choir 2026? It’s time to find out.