Athy festive concert 'Drive the Winter Away' triumphs

ATHY locals gathered for the ‘Drive the Dark Winter Away’ event, which was a dual celebration of the winter solstice and Christmas.

The event, which took place the Sunday before Christmas, was livestreamed from St Michael’s Parish Church in Athy, to homes in Sydney, New York and Alaska.

For over thirty years the town has gathered to listen to local singers and musicians and share in festive cheer, originally in the Dominican Church and transferring to St Michaels in 2015. ‘Drive The Dark Winter Away’ was devised and directed by Aideen Treacy of Capella Productions, with the support of Joseph Gorman as musical director.

The whole event was led by the choir, conducted by Kelly Rose Kerins, who delivered a catalogue of festive songs and hymns to the delight of the packed church, including a beautiful rendition of Drive the Cold Winter Away set the tone for the evening.

Poems and readings interspersed among the choral pieces, with James Mahon illuminating the night with his reading about the timbers that burn best and warmest, Imelda Dooley’s story twinkled like the star of Bethlehem, Pascal Lacey read a poem for the shortest day and David Walsh read Patrick Kavanagh’s poem, ‘A Christmas Childhood’.

Kevin Morrin’s rendition of Cormac Mac Connell’s 1915 on Christmas Day was a magnificent performance and received a prolonged round of applause.

The combined male choir delivered the challenging acapella Medieval Latin carol; Gaudate, and Darragh Ennis and Makayla Farrell sang the very haunting Winter Song a beautiful performance by two very talented and upcoming artists.

Seventeen members of Athy Comhaltas took to the stage, with five sets of parents and children performing, the youngest member being just eight years of age. The group performed seasonal tunes and finished with a fantastic rendition of Fairytale of New York. 

The night’s finale saw Paul Linehan and Sophie Mulhare duet on O Holy Night before the crowd rose to give a standing ovation to a wonderful production.