2025 Music for Schools Competition Finalists Announced
Waltons New School of Music
Today, February 28th, RTÉ lyric fm announced the twelve school music groups (six primary and six post-primary) selected as Finalists in the 2025 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition. There was a huge response from schools around the country when this year's Competition was announced, and the closing date earlier this month saw a deluge of entries flooding in from Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.
Our first-round adjudicators were enormously impressed by the high standard of entries this year and the imagination, musicality and effort evident in each of them. And they had their work cut out for them in selecting just twelve Finalist groups (six primary and six post-primary) to perform in the 2025 Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert, which will take place in the National Concert Hall on Monday, March 24th.
At the Finalists Concert, our distinguished 2025 guest adjudicators Aedín Gormley and Lisa Hannigan, as well as one of the Competition co-directors, will select six of these groups – three primary and three post-primary – to win First, Second and Third prizes, as well as €2,000, €1,000 and €500 vouchers for musical instruments and equipment from Waltons Music Ireland, for their schools. The other Finalist groups will receive €200 vouchers.
The twelve Finalists were selected based on several criteria, including musicality, originality, inclusiveness and how effectively and creatively they addressed this year's Competition theme, 'The Key of Life'.
In addition to the Finalists, the adjudicators have also singled out groups that were not selected but are of particular merit as Commended, Highly Commended or Very Highly Commended. These schools will receive commendation certificates for all participants in acknowledgement of their achievements.
Primary Finalists
Our six Primary Finalists are:
- Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Tipperary
- Gaelscoil Ó Doghair, Caisleán Nua Thiar, Co. Limerick
- Gaelscoil Shlí Dála, an Bealach Mór, Co. Laois
- Scoil Chuimín agus Caitríona, Oughterard, Co. Galway
- St. Marnock's National School, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin
- Woodbrook National School, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Roscommon
Post-Primary Finalists
Our six Post-Primary Finalists are:
- Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore, Co. Waterford
- Coláiste Mhuire, Bothar Rath Tó, Dublin 7
- Coláiste Pobail Setanta, Clonee, Dublin 15
- Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo
- St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath
- The King's Hospital School, Old Lucan Road, Dublin 20
Profiles and videos of the Finalist schools, as well as lists of commended entries, will be available soon on the 2025 Competition Page, and videos can be viewed soon on the YouTube Channel.
We are grateful to every single school, performing group, teacher and school principal submitting an entry for the 2025 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition. We hope that the process of responding to this year's theme, of collaborating on your entries and of creating your wonderfully diverse pieces was a fulfilling one. Take pride in your achievement, keep up the great work and thank you for sharing your beautiful music with us!
a comprehensive music centre in the heart of Dublin.