Kildare choir lands spot on Pan-Celtic Festival
Choir practice at Teach Diarmuida
THE ASSUMPTION Choir accompanied by talented organist, Brian Kehoe, will be taking their fantastic choral mass to this year’s Pan-Celtic Festival in Carlow.
The festival will take place from 7-11 April and features a packed programme of events celebrating Celtic heritage.
The Assumption Choir is set to perform at the festival’s end with the Aifreann na Féile choral mass on Saturday 11 April at 6.15pm at Carlow’s Cathedral of the Assumption.
The choir has about 80 official members, and is an amalgamation of the Castledermot Parish Choir, St Michael’s Parish Choir, Athy, the Cathedral Choir in Carlow and the Carlow Coral Society. It is expected that around 60 members will perform on the night.
The Aifreann na Féile mass is inspired by Dublin’s patron saint, St Laurence O’Toole, in celebration of the 800th anniversary of his canonisation.
Musician and composer, Brian Kehoe, spoke about how “fantastic” the opportunity is for the choir.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “Everyone is so excited, and it’s great to have another goal to work towards.” Mr Kehoe remarked that he has changed a bit of the composition to include Irish language sections, making it a tri-lingual piece also including English and French.
The performance will also include trad musicians who will accompany the music, adding a fresh Irish feel to the mass.
The event will mark the choir’s fourth performance of the mass, having memorably performed in Dublin at the Pro-Cathedral, Castledermot Church and St Michael’s Church in Athy previously.
