Cathal Barry
The principal of the Kilkenny based Presentation secondary school whose choir wowed the judges on Britain’s Got Talent has described the “roller-coaster” experience as “amazing”.
Shane Hallahan told The Irish Catholic that he was “delighted with the reception the choir received”.
“I was over at the filming, along with the school’s deputy principal, Mary Ryan. We have been there every step of the way with the girls, as we try to do it all as a school,” he said.
Directed by Veronica McCarron, the 57 member girls’ choir from Kilkenny Presentation School stunned both the audience and the judges with their rendition of Adiemus.
They got a ‘yes’ from each of the four judges, including Simon Cowell and progressed to the next round.
Delighted
“The girl’s reaction was amazing. It was absolutely fantastic. They are delighted they got their four yeses,” Mr Hallahan said, explaining that the show had actually requested the school choir to audience after seeing some of their videos online.
“They actually approached us. They saw some of our stuff on YouTube and were coming to Ireland and they contacted myself and asked could they come to the school.
“I have children myself and I know how excited they get over Britain’s Got Talent. I spoke to Veronica and the girls and they were very excited to do it,” he said.
Mr Hallahan stressed that he was “very conscious of the girl’s studies and that a lot of the girls involved in the choir are going for very high points in their Leaving Certificate”.
“The girls have done all of this work outside of school time so it would not affect their studies and would not affect teaching so from that point of view it has been an experience, it has been a journey and I think it all came to fruition at the weekend.
“It has been a rollercoaster. It has been amazing,” he said.