Gerard Lillis, current director of The Schola Cantorum, St Finian’s College; Ronan McDonagh, past pupil of The Schola Cantorum, 1979-1984; Most Rev Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath; Dr John O’Keeffe, past pupil of The Schola Cantorum, 1976-1981; and John McHale, principal of St Finian’s College.

Schola Cantorum marks 50 years with cathedral event

Published: Mon 22 Nov 2021, 1:28 PM

Last updated: Mon 22 Nov 2021, 1:30 PM

An event to mark the 50th anniversary of The Schola Cantorum Music Conservatory in St Finian’s College took place yesterday, Sunday evening in The Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar.

To mark the anniversary of The Schola Cantorum, Pope Francis conferred the honour of Knight of St Gregory the Great on two distinguished past pupils who are both working full-time in the area of liturgical music.

The event was led by Bishop Tom Deenihan and coincided with Solemn Vespers to mark the feast day of Christ the King and the Cathedral.

The Irish Papel Nuncio, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, with bishops from all corners of the country, were in attendance as the Schola Cantourm was founded by the Irish Bishops Conference in 1970 to train young organists and choral directors for the Irish Church.

Dr John O’Keeffe is a native of Portmagee, County Kerry who graduated from The Schola Cantorum in 1981. Having worked as organ scholar in the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, Westminster Cathedral, and Longford Cathedral, John was appointed to his current position as director of Sacred Music at the National Seminar in Maynooth College.

In recent years John has published two fine collections of liturgical music for use in parishes throughout the country and he was director of Music for the Papal Mass in the Phoenix Park at the World Meeting of Families in 2018.

Ronan McDonagh is a native of Kiltimagh, County Mayo, who graduated from the Schola Cantorum in 1984. Having worked as director of music at the Basilica in Knock, Ronan has been working as organist and director of music for the Carmelite Community of St Teresa in Clarendon Street, Dublin since 1990.

Ronan has become widely known as a composer of liturgical music that grows out of our native Irish tradition. His acclaimed choir Fuaimlaoi comprises a dynamic group of talented and committed singers and instrumentalists from all corners of the country who have a keen interest in both liturgical music and Irish culture.

With Fuaimlaoi, Ronan has released two fine collections of his liturgical compositions, Ancient Promise (2010) and At the End of the Sky (2021).