The St. Fin Barre's Cathedral Choir

With a history reaching back to the 14th century, the Cathedral Choral Foundation is one of the most enduring and important features of the cultural fabric of the City of Cork. The mixed choir provides training for girls and boys from the age of five to sing in the Anglican choral tradition and the choir performs at least three times per week during term time including Choral Evensong on Fridays at 6:15pm and on Sundays Choral Eucharist takes place at 11:15am while Choral Evensong takes place at 3:30pm. The services are very popular and all are welcome.

Rehearsals take place for the girls on Monday from 5:00pm to 6:30pm and Friday from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. The boys rehearse on Wednesday from 4:30pm to 6:00pm and Friday from 4:15pm to 5:15pm. The adults rehearse at 5:15pm on Friday and again after Choral Evensong from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. There is a further rehearsal on Sunday from 2:30pm to 3:30pm.

The choir does not attend practices or services during July or August, half term holidays and the week after Christmas and the week after Easter.

These always contain a ‘fun’ element as well as music making and contribute towards the social aspect of the choir. In April 2018 the choir travelled to St Davids Cathedral, Wales. In April 2019 they travelled to Hamburg and Lübeck in Germany. In April 2023 they travelled to Amsterdam, and also sang in Haarlem and Leiden as well as visiting the zoo.

Singing in a choir such as Saint Fin Barre’s is an excellent musical training and can complement the learning of an instrument as it develops music reading, concentration and aural skills. As part of the training scheme choristers follow the Royal School of Church Music Voice for Life programme.

The choristers are rewarded for their hard work with a monthly sum of money based on their attendance. Bonuses are awarded for special services.