The town of Ballyclare is part of the Borough of Newtownabbey and is situated north of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was in September 1933 that a choir, to be known as the Ballyclare and District Male Voice Choir was formed.  At that time most of the members lived in the surrounding area but, over the years with an ever growing reputation is now known as the Ballyclare Male Choir.  Now in its 78th anniversary year it attracts its members from much further afield. Down through the years the choir has become well known throughout the British Isles and Ireland where it has obtained many accolades as a result of performances on radio, television and the concert platform. There have also been numerous successes at Festivals throughout the United Kingdom. The choir's repertoire of secular and sacred music is in much demand at concerts and church services throughout the province and further afield.

The choir has had close associations with three other international choirs,MGV Sängerkreis in Wulfrath, Germany, Laulu Veljet, Hämeenlinna, Finland and Høybraaten Sangforening, Oslo, Norway.  Between 1984 and 2001 the four choirs had regularly rallied to each others' countries for a festival of choral music and fellowship.  In June 2001 the Ballyclare choir travelled to Wulfrath to sing and socialise with its German friends.  It also gave a performance in the German town of Dorsten, which is twinned with Newtownabbey. In May 2009 the choir travelled to Neuchatel, Switzerland to form a new relationship with a local male choir, L'Helvétienne de Gorgier with its now late conductor Ian Woods, a native of North Antrim who sadly passed away in September 2011