Entries open for Pan Celtic Song Contest
DETAILS of the Pan Celtic National Song Contest 2025 have been announced and there’s a cash prize of €1,000 on offer for the composer of the winning song, which will also go forward as the Irish entry in the Pan Celtic International Song Contest next April.
The national competition invites newly-composed songs in the Irish language and is open to all styles, including traditional and pop, rock and rap, country, jazz and classical.
The only requirement is that the lyrics and music be original and ‘as Gaeilge’. The songs may be written for and performed by solo singers, groups or bands.
The popular song contest has been organised by Pan Celtic Carlow and held in Carlow since 2012. The competition has been hugely successful over the years and traditionally welcomes some wonderful local performers and composers.
Sponsored by Carlow Local Authorities, IMRO and Gael Linn, the competition attracts music of the highest quality from across the country and a flood of entries is anticipated for 2025.
Recordings may be on smartphone, MP3, CD or other mediums to [email protected].
The deadline for receipt of entries is 5pm on Monday 30 December and the organisers are anxious to point out that a professional recording is not a requirement at entry stage.
Entries received by the deadline will be shortlisted and the chosen finalists will then compete at the live final, which will be held on Saturday 25 January in the George Bernard Shaw Theatre, at Visual, Carlow.
A panel of judges will choose the winning song to represent Ireland and go head-to-head with the other national winners from Wales, Scotland, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man at the International Pan Celtic Festival 2025 in Carlow next Easter from 22-26 April.
Full details on the national song contest as well as the application form are now available. Email [email protected] or phone 087 2857048 or 085 1340047. Entries can also be posted to Pan Celtic Carlow, Glór Cheatharlach, Éire Óg GAA Club, O’Brien Road, Carlow.
