‘If your  gospel choir lacks a “sense of calling, that sense of ministry . . . you can hear it in the worship experience,” says Samuel Friedman in the “New York Times.” To do its job, a choir must be trained to inspire the congregation as well as sing, perform and rehearse with the same professionalism as paid singers.

                                 The Kilkenny Gospel Choir offers workshops in:

1. The history of Gospel Music
2. The Spirituality of Gospel Music
3. How to sing Gospel Music
4. Leading a Gospel Choir
5. The dynamics of a Gospel Choir
6. Leadership in a Gospel Choir

For information on Gospel Choir Training contact:   kilkennygospelchoir@gmail.com

WOW, all systems are GO for the first ever International Gospel Choir Festival. We are delighted to host the Festival on behalf of our Gospel brothers and sisters through out the world. To date choirs are already booking for the event, so get in – in time. The Festival will be a cultural sharing experience for all so not to be missed. Welcome all.

Membership is now open for the Kilkenny Gospel Choir. We welcome our five new members in the past month. Contact the membership secretary Ben or  Marrianne through our Email for information on how to join us.

It is with deep sadness for the choir that one of our members Pat Cantwell has died.  Pat was a faithful member of the choir for 8 years and was the first web designer.

The videos on our site are his work and we will miss his dedication and great friendship.

As he joins the great choir of heaven he is still part of all our lives.

In October we will celebrate 10 years since our foundation. This will be marked with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Seamus Freeman in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Ocober 24th @ 5.30 pm. All are invited to attend.

The Kilkenny Gospel Choir once again decided to take an active role in involving the people of Kilkenny and surrounding counties in partaking in an event while fundraising for a worthwhile cause. Upon learning of the devastation and plight of the people of Haiti, we sat down and wondered what we as a choir and outreach group could do and a decision was made that we would host a concert in aid of the people of Haiti. Fr. Willie went on local radio and made an open invitation for people to join us on the night. The number of people and various groups who approached the choir was truly heartwarming.

Over €12,000 was raised during the collection made on the night. We can never express our gratitude for the generosity shown on the night by all those who attended. We are also very grateful to all those who performed on the night, Darren Holden, Don Mescall, Mick Hanley, Stephen Murphy, Mog O’Grady & Billy Carrigan, Jim Maher & Paddy Fitzpatrick, Thomastown Choir, Dungarvan Gospel Choir, Thukolo, Scoil Airegail and Na Fianna. We were also honoured to have Bishop Seamus Freeman along with Brian Cody, Sue Nunn, Sr. Maeve Guinan and many others in attendance on the night and for a huge thank you to them for giving their time. We also have to thank Edwina Grace for her fantastic job as compare on the night, Seamus Reade for his position as stage manager and to Conmore Press for printing the posters. All of these people gave of their time freely and the Kilkenny Gospel Choir are grateful that we have friends such as these on hand.

Lastly I would just like to say a big thank you to our own members of the Kilkenny Gospel Choir, who give of their time so generously time and time again.

On Sunday 28th November 2009, Kilkenny Gospel Choir hosted a gospel choir workshop in the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel.  Fr. Willie Purcell led what was a very enjoyable afternoon.  We learned all about the origins of gospel music, along with the many different styles of singing within the genre of gospel music.  The joyful sounds of gospel music could be heard throughout the hotel as Fr. Willie directed the choirs in song. 

The afternoon finished all too soon for many of us, such was our enjoyment of the day.  We now wait in anticipation of the next workshop to be held in March 2010.

This Saturday morning we’re linking up with the UN peace keepers in Chad for mass at 11:30am. Family members of the Kilkenny Gospel Choir are currently serving in Chad.

At the Kilkenny Army Barracks on Saturday morning we will join with families and friends for a very special celebration.

Thousands of people have turned out in Kilkenny for the start of celebrations marking its designation as a city on this day 400 years ago.  We were delighted to be the chosen choir to lead the opening ceremony for this great event for our City.

The organisers of Kilkenny 400 are hoping that the nine-month long festival will bring a welcome economic boost to the popular tourist town.

On this day 400 years ago, King James I, the then King of Ireland and son of the infamous Mary Queen of Scots, granted Kilkenny a charter designating it a city.

A decision was taken a number of years ago by Kilkenny Borough Council to hold a celebration this year to mark the milestone.

The celebrations got under way with an open air performance by the Kilkenny Gospel Choir.

They processed down the central aisle at Christ Church Cathedral in their red robes, to a tambourine beat, (piano and two guitars) and Kilkenny Gospel Choir sang and swayed and clapped into the lives of their audience. They came to share, to enliven and enrich and delight and that they did in abundance.

There was that uplifting, heartfelt, emotional link as Every Time I Feel The Spirit and Gonna Lay Down My Burdens, caught the holy roller rock and roller mood of the sixties – ain’t gonna study war no more. Great harmonies and heartfelt solo work reminded me of Eva Cassidy, Iris De Ment and the power of Mahalia Jackson.

It seemed too early for the stand up and holler stuff but it got nice and happy clappy. The audience responded and it was call and response for Do Lord and the anthemic Swing Low Sweet Chariot and a beautiful Because He Lives with a good lead voice took the work, at the Coffee Concert, into a more soulful plane. Open Our Eyes Lord was a modern song, with a beautiful solo line that was memorable. Somebody’s Prayin’ was a highlight with its soulful reflective message and Heaven Is In My Heart returned the choir and audience to a rousing, almost dancing, Everytime I Feel The Spirit.

Lynn Cahill must bring this Kilkenny Gospel Choir back again in the Autumn.

Review by Liam Murphy, Munster Express, March 27th 2009.