Hi °C | Lo °C 
STOPPING off at the Liffey Valley shopping centre on their way up to Dublin, a group of committed little saxophonists picked up pairs of the sunglasses to lend that vital 'jazz' look.
Fifth and sixth classes students from St Canice's NS in Kilkenny, the lads who are with the senior orchestra were on their way to the Feis Ceoil in the RDS today when they had the brainwave.
"We spent €10 - the blue pairs were €7," explained Patrick O'Shea, Daire Meagher, Tommy Farrell and David Conway from Kilkenny.
They joined the orchestra as it busily tuning up for the start of the afternoon competitions.
St Canices has won the competition a total of 22 since 1985, said proud teacher Regina O'Leary. The school has a proud tradition of music and many former pupils have gone on to a professional career in the business.
Regina's own son, David - also a past pupil - is a violinist with the English National Opera.
The rehearsal room in the RDS was humming with the happy din of tuning instruments with no less than three different orchestras completing last minute preparations before the competitions.
Earlier, baritone Rory Musgrave (29) from Cleggan, Co Galway was celebrating after scooping the major Mahler prize in the Feis Ceoil.
"I wasn't expecting it at all," he said. "You always want it - I did feel it went well and I was telling a very long and dramatic story. I got caught up in it and enjoyed it," he explained.
But no sooner had he won one competition when it was off to practise for another.
Over 5,000 young musicians are competing in the Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil over the two weeks of the event, which finishes up on Friday.
