About Us
A Few Words About Us
Our History
Sligo Choral Society, founded in 1975 grew out of the Dominican Church Choir, Holy Cross Friary, Sligo. Under the direction of Maura Butler, it was established to continue Sligo’s fine reputation in choral singing, building upon a tradition that combines musical excellence with creativity and innovation. The choir continued to rehearse in the Friary Hall and performed its first concert in the Friary the following year in 1976.
Sligo Choral Society changed its name to Sligo Orpheus Choir in 1994 and has established itself as one of the foremost choirs in the Northwest for the quality of its performance and range of programming.
The choir has performed at the National Concert Hall, has sung Haydn’s Creation with the English Festival Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall and has performed most of the major Oratorios with Ireland’s leading conductors and orchestras. We have also made many successful T.V. appearances over the years!
Our extensive and varied repertoire ranges from a Capella to the mainstream choral repertoire. In recent years we have completed short concert tours in France, Iceland and Germany to great acclaim. It is our hope to conduct another tour in 2023/2024 – watch this space!!


Original 1975 Choir members
Seated: Colette McBride, Róisín Barr, Deirdre Parle, Rev. T. Jordan O.P (Holy Cross Prior), Brid Butler (Musical Director & Organist), Mai O’Connor, Angela Rennick, Noela Higgins.
Standing: Doreen O’Connor, Imelda Mullaney, Brian Crummy, Ray Carty, JJ Finan, Sean McManus, Martin Mooney, Mary Palmer, Ann Tansey.
Not Included: Joan Fitzpatrick, Rosaleen Moore, Dermot McDermott, Michael Murphy.


Choir 1980s


Choir 2006


Choir 2014
Choir Highlights
1981 Performance
1982 Performance
1983 Performance
1985 Performance
1988 Performance
1992 Performance
1994 Performance
1995 Performance
1995 Performance
1996 Newsletter
2005 CD Launch
2010 Performance
2015 Performance
Performed with...
Foreign Trips include...


Llandudno, Wales 1997


Brittany, France 2015


Reykjavik, Iceland 2017


Kempten, Germany 2018
Musical Directors
Our esteemed Musical Directors include:


Maura Butler
1975 - 1991


Sheila Crowley
1991 - 2008


Austin McManus
2008 -