A musical tour de force last evening
The ambience was beautiful, the music superb, and the festive spirit very much in evidence in a very appreciative audience.
Organised by Brannockstown Community to raise funds for Kilcullen SVP and the parish cemeteries, the whole event was polished, professional, and a seriously good value concert at the €15 ticket cost.
The opening performance by the Brannockstown NS choir was a charmer and an absolute credit to their teachers and parents, and the rendition of A Space Man Came Travelling with soloists Jessy, Anna and Emily was quite breathtaking. The Millicent Singers under their leader Alan Kelly were smooth, sophisticated, and showed all present just why they are winners of many awards nationally and abroad. In particular, their quirky Old Mother Hubbard raised many smiles.
We have heard and enjoyed the Ballymore Eustace Concert Band before, but for this performance they excelled in a full-on rendition of many favourites old and new suited to the season, under Jon Clifford's baton. Their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame had everybody's feet tapping. South of Ireland Band Champions of 2014, definitely we heard and saw why ... and let's also not forget their Ballymore Babes interlude of songs of the 1940s. The solo performance by Paul Treacey of Silent Night nicely underpinned the theme of the season and the location of the concert — Paul also did a solo with the Brannockstown NS group and sang also with the Kilcullen Gospel Choir.
I know that the final act, Kilcullen's own Gospel Choir, were nervous about following all that and rounding out the night. They need not have worried — even though this was only their fourth public outing, it was a tour de force of a performance and left us all in high good spirits and looking forward to their next event (they have three or four already scheduled before the festive season ends). Overall, they reflected the energy of their director, Phionagh Gibson, who does her job with absolute and very evident passion. The concluding Joy to the World nicely put an end to the evening. Kudos also to the accompanying band, superb musicians all and a couple still only 16.
A great night, with MC Tracey Piggott doing her usual supremely professional best for the occasion. There are pictures here (and I apologise in advance for the quality, as the lighting didn't facilitate taking good photographs, but you'll get a visual flavour of the evening).
