Gospel Choir to make multiple appearances today
They'll appear in Nolans Butchers at around midday, then members will take time out to do their own Christmas chores before going on a 'pub crawl' this evening.
"We're starting in The Hideout at 5.30pm, then we'll sing in every pub in town, finishing about 8-ish," Lorna Brophy told the Diary. It's a new gig on their Christmas programme, and apparently the publicans are very enthusiastic about it too. (This post was changed to reflect an inaccuracy about the starting time.)
In the last month or so, the 50-strong group has sung in Naas Hospital, at their own 'Ring of Choir' event in Toughers, and at an annual fundraiser for a Mozambique mission held in the Bermingham family home in Kilcullen. They also entertained in the rain at the recent Christmas Fair in Kilcullen's market square, and in the parish church at the Carols by Candlelight concert to raise funds for repairs to the church roof.
The Choir's biggest event this year was also in the market square, when they appeared with Mundy at the Twilight Chorus Concert in aid of Pieta House. That event contributed to a record-breaking fundraising of €21,500 for the cause. And in the early part of 2018, in February, they double-headed with the Dublin Gospel Choir in the much-enjoyed 'Sing for Jack' fundraiser for little Jack Ryan, at the Chill Mhuire church in Newbridge.
They also performed at the September Relay for Life Kildare, before that event had to be abandoned due to high winds.
The group, like most of its kind, is mostly women, though a few stalwart men have sung with them since the early days. For the time being, it is generally closed to new members, although it's understood that there's still room for any men who want to get involved.
When the Choir was set up in 2014, it had 18 members and was conducted by Phionagh Gibson, a music teacher in Cross and Passion College, whose energy and passion was a foundation for the group's development. She retired from the position in early 2017 and since then Lorraine Nolan from Newbridge has been conducting things in her own individual and equally professional style.
Over the years, the group has performed with some of the top names in music, including Rob Strong, Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Hyland and Edel Mackey. The Kilcullen-based Joey Lee Lawlor's 'Johnny Cash Tribute Show' is also a regular on stage with them.
The group practices in the Bridge Camphill Community Hall. In addition to members from Kilcullen itself, there are singers from Blessington, Ballymore, Newbridge, Milltown and more.
We wish them a very happy Christmas and New Year, and thanks for all the music and the happiness it wrought.
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