The wedding singers
A spinoff from the Family Mass inaugurated some years ago has resulted in a pair of local singers getting together to sing at weddings and baptisms in the area.
Calling themselves Harmoneey, Niamh Traynor and Laura Clifford specialise in a mix of contemporary Christian and Classical numbers for their reportoire.
Niamh plays guitar and Laura the keyboard, but they often sing also a capella – without accompaniment – depending on the particular piece of music, or the part of the mass. In addition they can use backing tracks. “These have the advantage that the music accompaniment is of best quality,” says Niamh. “But of course, you can't slip in an extra verse if, for instance, the communion is running a bit longer than expected.
Niamh is originally from Athlone but has been living in Kilcullen for about four years. Laura comes from a long established family in Kilcullen and Brannockstown.
When Niamh arrived here first she got involved singing and playing guitar in the Family Mass. After a couple of years she opted out, but did continue singing in the church once a month with Laura. Laura is also a member of the Cross & Passion College Choir.
They recently sang at the 50th anniversary mass for Sr Mary Hernan and there has already been a positive response to some initial advertising in local newspapers.
“We're limiting our travel to within 30 kilometres of Kilcullen,” Niamh says, not least because she has four children to look after.
Both girls are also songwriters. Niamh has included one of hers on a demo CD they've compiled, while Laura has written poems which Niamh has set to music and sung.
“I've also written a song about my Nannie, 'Queenie' Clifford,” Laura says. “She died recently, and while I was sitting in my English exam I had an 'epiphany' ... all these words came to me and I wrote them down. They made perfect sense, and I completed the song, but I failed my exam!”
The song is called, aptly, 'Queen of My Heart'.
Niamh is singing in a production of 'The Mikado' in the National Concert Hall on 13/14 August. She's one of three singers from the area – the others are Sarah Vaughan from Clondalkin and Orla Conneton from Newbridge – who succeeded at auditions for the Ladies Chorus in the show.
“Then we're going to compete in the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival at Buxton, near Manchester, afterwards. It's a great experience.”
As Harmoneey, Niamh and Laura aren't aiming to hit the big time, but would like to earn enough to upgrade their sound equipment, so as to provide an even better service to their future clients.
“It would also be nice to bring out a Christmas CD with the Childrens Choir,” Niamh suggests.
A nice thought indeed. If you'd like to hear some samples of their work, tune in here.
Brian Byrne.
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