Person to Person: My love of choral singing started as a small child, singing with my mother in St Patrick's church 

TELL us about yourself;

My name is Saoirse Daly. I am 23 and I am a singer and a choral conductor. I am a recent graduate of MTU Cork School of Music, finishing with a Bachelor’s in Music, specialising in vocal performance.

Since finishing my degree, I have had the privilege of conducting four amazing choirs. The City Hall Singers (Cork City Council), Musgraves Workplace Choir, The Cork Garda Male Voice Choir, and the Bus Éireann Community Choir. They are all fantastic and positive groups of people!

While I also conduct a few choirs, I sing in a few also. Those are Madrigal ’75, Irish Youth Choir, MTU Glór Choral Society, and I am also a Lay Vicar Choral in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.

I was always a musical child. I enjoyed it much more than school, I can tell you that! Any time an instrument would come to the house, I would claim it, even if it wasn’t mine, and spend my time learning it.

My love of choral singing started when I was a small child, singing with my mother in the church choir at St Patrick’s Church, Lower Glanmire Road. When I turned 11, I joined the choir of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and they haven’t been able to get rid of me since!

Choral singing has given me so much confidence and has also made me friends for life from all over the country.

Where were you born?

I was born and bred here in Cork city and am still living here today.

Family?

I have two older brothers, Martin and Brendan. Being the youngest and the only girl has its pros and cons. Pro – You are well looked after by everyone. Con – you no longer have only two parents, mom and dad… you have four, the council of parents, as I like to call them. Myself and my two brothers always got on very well.

I have two of the most supportive parents, Pat and Deirdre, who have always allowed me to follow my dream of achieving a music career. My mother and her family introduced me to choral music. My grandfather (her father), was a founding member of the City of Cork Male Voice Choir and a singer himself. I wish he was still around to see how choirs in Cork have gone from strength to strength in recent years.

Best friend?

That would have to be my boyfriend, Nick. It’s very easy to vent to him after a stressful day. He’s great at giving advice. He’s my choir WAG! Dealing with my shenanigans, he’s sat at nearly every concert I perform in.

Earliest childhood memory?

One of my earliest memories is probably when I was three or four years old, in St Patrick’s Church, Lower Glanmire Road, and seeing my mother up in the gallery, singing with the choir at Sunday mass. 

I would guess that was the first time I recalled hearing choral music and being captivated by it. 

Either that or else sitting on the couch in my grandmother’s house with my aunt Eadaoin and her teaching me the tin whistle at the age of three. My introduction to music!

Person you most admire?

I simply cannot put that down to one person! I would have to say all the strong women in music that are in my life, my mom, my aunt, my teacher Mary Hegarty, and my good friends Caitriona, Lucy, Shannon, Úna, Rhea and Denise, to name a few! They are all beyond inspiring.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

I suppose I would not call this a holiday. In 2017, myself and a few friends from school went to Kenya with the charity Moving Mountains where we camped for 21 days in western Kenya. On this trip, we helped the local schools (even taught the students a few songs!), climbed Mount Kenya and went on safari. It was an unforgettable experience!

Favourite TV programme?

At the moment it is either Grey’s Anatomy or else The Marvellous Mrs Maisel. I love a strong female lead!

Favourite radio show?

I don’t really listen to the radio but I do love a podcast! At the moment I am listening to How to Gael. It is a bilingual podcast where three girls include both Irish and English in their episodes. 

I am currently trying to get better at Irish. I couldn’t tell you if it’s improving!

Favourite restaurant?

Either Wabi Sabi on Oliver Plunkett Street or else visiting the Marina Market!

Last book you read?

I Am Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy.

Best book you read?

Out of Love by Hazel Hayes. I couldn’t put it down!

Last album/CD/download you bought?

The last album I streamed was Columbo, by Bruno Major. The fact he has me crying at a song about a car(!) is insane.

Favourite song?

I would say the answer to this changes every five minutes for me! I say at the moment it would be Coming Home Song, by Sammy Rae & The Friends. I love their music!

One person you would like to see in concert?

Probably Sam Fender. But if I had to choose between someone dead or alive, I would have to say Tony Bennett. What a voice!

Your proudest moment?

Winning Ireland’s Choir of the Year at last year’s Cork International Choral Festival with MTU Glór Choral Society. I was Chairperson of the society at the time and it was really amazing seeing the choir go from strength to strength that year! I

 am really looking forward to what we are doing at the festival this year!

What makes you happy?

People coming together from all walks of life and making beautiful music together. There’s nothing more rewarding when you all come together with a finished product.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone honest, positive, hard-working and kind. Now if that’s true, I couldn’t tell ya!

What else are you up to at the moment?

I am preparing my choirs for the Cork International Choral Festival, which takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend (May 1-5). I have two competing in the Ibec Workplace Choir of The Year Competition and one competing in the Lower Voices competition of the festival. I am also preparing for singing in both the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition and Ireland’s Choir of The Year Competition with MTU Glór Choral Society. I am also performing at the festival non-competitively with Glór, Madrigal ’75 and with St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.

And since I am obviously not busy enough, I am participating in the Choral Conducting Workshop during the week of the festival. I do have a busy bank holiday ahead of me!

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Now in its 69th year, the Cork International Choral Festival is one of Europe’s most prestigious choral events, bringing together singers from all over Ireland, Europe, and beyond.

With more than 90 venues hosting gala performances, competitions, fringe concerts, and free public performances, there will be music everywhere you turn in Cork city and county. There will be more than 100 free performances.

For more, see www.corkchoral.ie