One of my favourite things at Christmas time is listening to and singing along with Christmas carols. If this appeals to you too, then here’s a roundup of Carols By Candlelight and other carol concerts to enjoy this year!
For many people, a big part of Christmas are the classic Christmas carols like Deck the Halls, The First Noel and O Come All Ye Faithful.
Hearing them live, and getting to sing along too, is a joyful experience so we’ve rounded up some places where you can enjoy Christmas carols. Unless specified, these are virtual events so you can watch from the comfort of your home.
Carols By Candlelight and Other Festive Carol Concerts
Peter McVerry Trust Christmas Carol Concert, Dublin
Date: December 3rd 2022
Peter McVerry Trust’s Christmas Carol Concert will take place in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin and features a fantastic line-up including Paul Harrington, Dublin Male Voice Choir and Dublin Youth Choir.
For more information, click here.
Carols from Around the World, Dublin
Date: December 3rd 2022
A group of international and Irish musicians will present a lively Christmas program with many carols and some instrumental music.
This family event in the beautiful St Paul’s Church, Glenageary will feature many carols – famous and little known, merry and mellow – from various lands, in different styles and languages, performed by professional and amateur musicians, including the Dublin Ukrainian Community choir with a few Ukrainian carols.
All proceeds will go to Focus Ireland.
For more information, click here.
Dublin Gospel Choir Christmas Concerts
Date: Various
The Dublin Gospel Choir returns with a brilliant selection of festive favourites and gospel greats to give you all the Christmas feels!
DGC have long been a household name in Ireland – versatile, vibrant and uplifting with powerful voices and rich harmonies. They have performed with artists as diverse as John Legend, Take That, Duran Duran, Damien Rice, Outkast and Ennio Morricone and their annual slot at Electric Picnic is nothing less than legendary.
Show include:
- December 3rd – The Civic Theatre, Tallaght
- December 8th – Mermaid, Bray
- December 9th – Roscommon Arts Centre
- December 10th – Draoicht, Blanchardstown
Christmas with New Voices, Dublin
Date: December 9th 2022
Internationally-acclaimed and award-winning chamber choir New Dublin Voices and Bernie Sherlock return to the John Field Room at the National Concert Hall with the perfect blend of Christmas music, old and new, for a concert brimming with the spirit of the season.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
The Knights Before Christmas, Galway
Date: December 10th 2022
The A Capella Knights presents The Knights Before Christmas, a festive evening of music and dance at Galway Cathedral supporting Hand in Hand Children’s Charity.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
The Big Christmas Sing Concert, Wexford Arts Centre
Date: December 10th 2022
Come along for some festive cheer and join in the fun with the Big Christmas singing group celebrating the end of series of workshops for the annual Big Christmas Sing Concert with a range of old, new and wacky seasonal favourites all led by Elizabeth Drwal. Also featuring the Wexford Festival Opera Children’s chorus 2022 and Parkinson’s Singing for Health Choir.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Christmas at St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick
Date: December 10th 2022
After an enjoyable day of Christmas shopping in the City why not finish off with a visit to the historic St. Mary’s Cathedral for some festive carol singing?!
For more information, click here.
Dublin County Choir Christmas Family Gala, Dublin
Date: December 11th 2022
As traditional as Christmas turkey, kick start the festive period with the best variety show of the season. Don’t miss the big sound of the Dublin County Choir and the cream of Irish family entertainment in the company of your favourite soprano and presenter Niamh Murray at National Concert Hall.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Don’t Miss…
Get wrapped up in the magic of Christmas with these fantastic family events and activities around Ireland – seasonal fun guaranteed!
The Kilkenny Choir Christmas Concert
Date: December 11th 2022
The Kilkenny Choir presents John Rutter’s Gloria and Christmas carols at St Canice’s Catholic Church, Kilkenny.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Music @ the Museum: Christmas Concert with Cantóirí
Date: December 14th 2022
The Chester Beatty is pleased to welcome back Cantóirí, a Dublin choir with an international membership. Cantóirí’s repertoire spans the centuries and the globe, and includes songs from Europe, Latin America and the Far East. This festive performance will feature a selection of Christmas songs, old and new, including some of our most beloved carols.
Free, no booking required. For more information, click here.
The Great Christmas Concert, Dublin
Date: December 15th 2022
For over 25 years audiences have made The Great Christmas Concert at the National Concert Hall the start of their Christmas Season! Not only will you experience the joyful and uplifting sounds of the voices of children in Piccolo Lasso combined with their adult colleagues in The Lassus Scholars, all blended together with the Orlando Chamber orchestra, but you will also have the opportunity of uniting your voice with theirs as conductor Dr Ite O’Donovan invites you to join in the audience carols!
The programme of festive music includes Christmas favourites from O Holy Night to Jingle Bells; choruses and arias by Mozart, C. Franck, Durante and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Christmas at the Cathedral, Cork
Date: December 17th 2022
After a two-year pause, Cork International Choral Festival is thrilled to announce the return of this popular evening with acclaimed soprano Fiona O’Reilly and tenor Ryan Morgan for an evening of festive carols, song and poetry in the stunning surrounds of St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral.
Fiona and Ryan will be joined on the evening by actors and singers fromCADA Performing Arts, The Carrigtwohill Gospel Choir, The Voices, Choral Con Fusion, and Scoil Mhuire Junior School Choir.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Carols by Candlelight, Bray
Dates: December 17th 2022
Bray Choral Society’s performance of Handel’s Messiah – Part 1 and Christmas carols old & new at Christ Church, Bray.
Musical Director Frank Kelly invites you to join in for marvellous night of Christmas sound and spirit with a raffle, mulled wine, and sing-along carols.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Candlelit Carols, Dublin
Date: December 19th 2022
The most elegant way to celebrate Christmas with a sublime concert of carols and seasonal classics, staged in an evocative candle-lit style setting at the National Concert Hall.
Featuring the Dublin Concert Orchestra and New Voices Choir.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
About the Author: Jill Holtz
