Battle of the Bow Ties: Trinitones and The Ramparts Redefine the All-Male Choir on IGT
The Ireland’s Got Talent stage transformed into a battlefield of flawless harmonies and tailored suits this week as two of Dublin’s premier all-male vocal ensembles went head-to-head. Bringing two entirely different energies to the competition, the groups proved that choral music is far from old-fashioned.
First up were the Trinitones, a charismatic choral ensemble from Trinity College Dublin. Walking out looking “like a stage full of James Bonds,” the group immediately shook up the room by breaking into a smooth, acapella mashup of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” and Sia’s “Cheap Thrills.” Their performance was a masterclass in modern vocal arrangement, blending intricate harmonies with rhythmic hand choreography and tongue-in-cheek humor. Judge Jason Byrne admitted he initially found the “posh” bow-tie persona a bit annoying, but confessed he was completely won over once they broke down the rhythm. Michelle Visage praised the performance as “classy yet funky,” and the Trinitones sailed through to the next round with a unanimous sweep of four “yeses.”
The vocal powerhouse train kept rolling with The Ramparts, a massive 20-piece choir pulling members from across Dublin, Kildare, and Northern Ireland. Dressed in sharp red suspenders and black bow ties, they delivered a high-octane, old-school performance of Ricky Nelson’s classic “Hello Mary Lou.” Their staggering wall of sound—spanning deep bass notes to high tenors—had the entire audience cheering. However, the performance sparked a hilarious civil war on the judging panel. While Louis Walsh and Michelle Visage were completely mesmerized by the technical skill and vocal layers, an unimpressed Jason Byrne slammed his red buzzer, complaining that the act had “way too much happiness” and declaring he wasn’t a fan of the “boom-boom” style. Fortunately for the 20-man squad, the remaini
