Monday, 12 October 2026
Here is this week’s Gospel Music Ireland round-up: Irish artists celebrate an international award, a chart-leading collaboration stays at No. 1, major Irish gospel choirs announce new activity, Chris Kabs prepares French-language music, and one of Ireland’s Afro-Gospel gatherings returns later this month.
WE ARE MESSENGERS WIN A 2026 GMA DOVE AWARD
Irish-fronted Christian band We Are Messengers won Christmas Recorded Song of the Year for “We Three Kings” at the 57th GMA Dove Awards. The ceremony took place in Nashville on 6 October, with the winners officially announced during the televised broadcast on 9 October.
Fronted by Monaghan-born singer and songwriter Darren Mulligan, We Are Messengers have built a substantial international following while retaining a strong connection to Mulligan’s Irish roots. The award arrives during the promotional campaign for the band’s fifth studio album, Halfway Home, released on 25 September.
Official winners: https://gospelmusic.org/news/57th-annual-gma-dove-awards-see-full-list-of-winners
CHART WATCH: “SOMETHING MORE” HOLDS THE TOP SPOT
Cammy Barnes and Irish-connected worship group Rend Collective remain at No. 1 on the Official UK Christian & Gospel Singles Chart for 9–15 October with “Something More”. The collaboration has now spent a second week at the summit. Rend Collective’s “Runaway Heart” has also risen to No. 7, giving the Northern Irish band two simultaneous Top 10 entries.
Current chart: https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/uk-christian-and-gospel-singles-chart/
GMI’s guide to chart eligibility for Irish artists: https://gospelmusic.ie/news/irish-artists-uk-christian-gospel-chart-eligibility
NEWBRIDGE GOSPEL CHOIR JOINS A MAJOR CHARITY CHRISTMAS PROJECT
Newbridge Gospel Choir will feature on a new Christmas charity song alongside Daniel O’Donnell, Una Healy and Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh. The project was initiated by television personality and choreographer Arthur Gourounlian and will raise funds for LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and Barretstown.
Inspired by Gourounlian’s experience of becoming a father, the song will celebrate love, kindness, family time and the memories created during Christmas. The collaboration places an Irish gospel choir alongside several of the country’s most recognisable entertainers and could introduce gospel choral music to a substantial mainstream audience through Christmas radio, television and entertainment coverage. Further information about the song’s title and release date is expected.
DUBLIN GOSPEL CHOIR PREPARE FOR BELFAST AND PÚCA FESTIVAL
Following their 11 October concert in aid of St Francis Hospice, Dublin Gospel Choir are preparing for two major performances with Qween. The choir will appear at The Limelight in Belfast on 23 October, creating another important cross-border opportunity for an established Irish gospel act.
They will then perform with Qween at the Púca Festival in Trim on 31 October as part of the festival’s Halloween programme. These appearances demonstrate the choir’s continuing ability to move between church, charity, festival and mainstream entertainment settings.
CHRIS KABS PREPARES A FRENCH-LANGUAGE RELEASE
Irish artist Chris Kabs is due to release his first French-language single on Friday, 16 October, ahead of a multilingual album planned for January 2027 in English, French and Lingala. He is also scheduled to appear at the Cork International Film Festival on 20 November for Congo Boy, with a short performance and conversation about the film. Together, the release and festival appearance give Irish media a strong music, language and intercultural story to follow this month.
COMING UP: ỌBA ŃLÁ CONCERT, 24 OCTOBER
Ọba Ńlá Concert 2026 brings Adéńiyì Allen-Taylor and his Afrobeat Orchestra to Unit 20/21 Lee Road, Dublin 11, on Saturday, 24 October. Doors open at 4:30 pm and the concert runs from 5:00 to 8:30 pm. The event is listed as all ages, with tickets at €20.
Event details and tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/oba-nla-concert-2026-tickets-1991839633964
CHURCHES, ARTISTS AND THE VALUE OF HUMAN CREATIVITY
On 2 October, Pope Leo XIV called for the Church to renew its alliance with artists and cultural institutions to safeguard human creativity in an age of artificial intelligence. Although his remarks were not specifically about Gospel music, they open a useful conversation for Ireland’s Gospel community: how can churches, arts organisations and funders support artists to make and share work rooted in human experience, faith and community?
That could mean practical partnerships around paid commissions, recording, touring, mentoring, access to venues and preserving the stories behind the music. This is a partnership opportunity to explore, rather than a new funding announcement.
Report on Pope Leo XIV’s statement: https://www.axios.com/2026/10/02/pope-leo-xiv-catholic-church-ai-warning-artists
ON OUR RELEASE WATCH
Gospel Music Ireland continues to follow new music and live activity from Irish and Ireland-connected artists including We Are Messengers, Rend Collective, Bailey333, Leah McFall, Brian Houston, Dublin Gospel Choir and Newbridge Gospel Choir. If you have a release, event or media opportunity for the next round-up, send the details and links to the GMI team.
Keep up with Irish Gospel music: follow Gospel Music Ireland for the latest chart news, releases, events and opportunities.
