2026 Music for Schools Competition Finalists Announced
Waltons New School of Music
On 15 April 2026, RTÉ lyric fm announced the twelve school music groups (six primary and six post-primary) selected as Finalists in the 2026 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 eighteen different counties.
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 to perform in the 2026 Music for Schools Competition Finalists Concert, which will take place in the National Concert Hall on Monday, May 18th.
At the Finalists Concert, our 2026 guest adjudicators Aedín Gormley and Paul Noonan, and Competition co-director Aideen Walton, will select three primary and three post-primary groups to win First, Second and Third prizes of €2,000, €1,000 and €500 vouchers (respectively) for musical instruments and equipment for their schools from Waltons Music Ireland. 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
- Bunscoil Loreto, Gorey, Co. Wexford
- Danescastle National School, Carrig on Bannow, Co. Wexford
- Newcastle National School, Athenry, Co. Galway
- St. Brigid’s National School, Tooreen, Co. Mayo
- St. Marnock’s National School, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin
- St. Teresa’s National School, Killoe, Co. Longford
Post-Primary Finalists
- Coláiste De Lacy, Ashbourne, Co. Meath
- De La Salle College, Dundalk, Co. Louth
- East Glendalough School, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow
- Mountrath Community School, Mountrath, Co. Laois
- Skibbereen Community School, Skibbereen, Co. Cork
- St. Mary’s Secondary School, Macroom, Co. Cork
Primary Very Highly Commended
- Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha, Tuam, Co. Galway
- Gaelscoil Ó Doghair, Caisleán Nua Thiar, Co. Limerick
- Kilmeen National School, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
- Scoil Bernadette, Montenotte, Co. Cork
- Scoil Mhuire agus Naomh Treasa, Killarney, Co. Kerry
- Ss. Peter and Paul’s CBS, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
- St. Ciaran’s National School, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Post-Primary Very Highly Commended
- Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore, Co. Waterford
- Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown, Co. Carlow
- Ennistymon Community School, Ennistymon, Co. Clare
- Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo
- St. Fergal’s College, Rathdowney, Co. Laois
- Ursuline College, Sligo, Co. Sligo
Primary Highly Commended
- Castletown Primary School, Castletown, Co. Laois
- Scoil Chlann Naofa, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim
- Scoil Iosef Naofa, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
- St. Tola’s National School, Shannon, Co. Clare
- Woodbrook National School, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Roscommon
Post-Primary Highly Commended
- Ard Scoil Chiaran Naofa, Clara, Co. Offaly
- Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12
- Coláiste Éanna – Entry 8, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
- Le Chéile Secondary School, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
- Rice College, Ennis, Co. Clare
- St. Kilian’s Community School, Bray, Co. Wicklow
Primary Commended
- Glinsk National School, Glinsk, Co. Galway
- Maryborough National School, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
- Our Lady’s National School, Milltown, Dublin 14
- St. Christopher’s Primary School, Dublin 4
- St. Olaf’s National School, Dundrum, Dublin 16
Post-Primary Commended
- Coláiste Éanna – Entries 1-7, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
- St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
Videos of the Finalist schools will be available soon on the Music for Schools Competition YouTube Channel, and both profiles and videos will be available on a new 2026 Competition Page.
We are grateful to every single school, performing group, teacher and school principal submitting an entry for the 2026 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!
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