TALENT: Musical students from St Brendan’s College in Killarney on stage with 'The High Kings'.

By Sean Moriarty

Musical students at St Brendan’s College in Killarney enjoyed a second cameo appearance with top performers in as many weeks – this time with The High Kings.

Two weeks after appearing on stage with Corona’s lead singer Danny Reilly, the students shared the stage with The High Kings, at the INEC last Saturday night.

The students shot to prominence this year after their impromptu session on a Ryanair flight of Irish classics ‘Step It Out Mary’ and ‘The Parting Glass’ went viral - clocking up millions of views.

The High Kings usually end their performances with their own version of ‘The Parting Glass’ and the St Brendan’s online version got the attention of the band’s Brian Dunphy.

“Brian emailed the school shortly after the famous Ryanair video praising the boys,” Music Teacher Niamh O’Connell said. “He said at the time that if the band was ever in Killarney they would do something with the boys.”

Following some correspondence, the band ended up inviting the boys to perform on stage, she added.

“It was a bit ironic really as some of them had bought tickets and they ended up on the stage with the High Kings.”

St Brendan’s were invited to perform their version of ‘The Parting Glass’ ahead of the High King’s encore of the same song.

“Our version led into the High King’s version,” Niamh said. “The High Kings were so encouraging of the boys, it was amazing for the boys to get an experience like this.”

The High Kings enjoyed the experience too, according to the band’s website.

“Early this year a group of lads singing on an aeroplane gained international attention and The High Kings were delighted to meet and perform with said gentlemen last weekend. The band would like to extend their gratitude to all the lads and particularly to their teachers, Mish O’Donoghue and Niamh O’Connell, for all their work in making it happen.”