The Clerks Choral are a fundamental feature of the life of this community.

The Clerks sing traditional Anglican repertoire in the Collegiate Church, and occasionally elsewhere, throughout the Irish Academic year. The present choir is an extremely able ensemble and the membership is drawn from many places, but there are strong links with Cork City and University College Cork, particularly the fine Music Department there.

The Clerks Choral is an ancient institution that was revived after a long period of disuse a few years ago. This was possible thanks to the re-classification of this extraordinary 12th century church as a Seadcomharthai Naisiunta (National Monument), which means that the fabric and maintenance is no longer the responsibility of the Select Vestry.

The Clerks Choral is part of a foundation that began in the year 1464 when Thomas, Earl of Desmond, founded a College at Youghal, which was attached to St. Mary's Church. The foundation was later confirmed by his son James in 1472. Some of the College buildings and the Warden's House still survive. The College consisted of eight fellows and eight singing clerks, but over the centuries this choral foundation was dissolved and reinstated owing to the turbulent history of these parts. Finally, a large parish choir, the previous inheritor of this long choral tradition, folded up in the 1970s and the organ that was in the chancel was removed in 1965. (A detailed history may be seen by clicking here)

The Parish Choir, c1890.

An ambitious organ project was concluded in 2007 and a wonderful instrument now stands in the North bay of the crossing, between the Great Nave and the Chancel.

A number of our Clerks are full-time students, or professional musicians and they receive a modest honorarium (administered by the Rector and Treasurer) and this, together with some of the other on-going expense, is paid for by an organisation of 'Friends & Benefactors' as well as through public recitals that the Clerks give throughout the year. The Vestry of the Collegiate Church is extremely grateful to the Friends for their support and interest.

If you feel inclined to support this foundation, if you are interested in Arts Music, or the East Cork / Youghal area, or in preserving the traditions of the Church of Ireland, or if simply you would like to support young musicians in their education in this tradition, then please consider joining. Details may be found here.

The Clerks are often invited to sing at special / important occasions elsewhere, sometimes outside the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

Foundation Members

Our Vice Patrons are people who are distinguished in Arts Music and / or Irish Life and some of them are living descendents of the founders of the original college.
We are most grateful to our Vice Patrons for lending support and interest to the work of this choral foundation.