It is Mayo all the way as the county’s finest musicians take to the stage in the Holy Rosary Church, Castlebar, next Saturday night April 27 for a special concert to raise funds for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children Crumlin. Hosted by well known Castlebar business man Walter Donoghue, the concert features the Mayo School of Music Youth Choir, Cill Aodhan Choral Society, and Castlebar born organist Siobhan Kilkelly, a lecturer in piano at the DIT Conservatory of Music in Dublin.
Even the visiting guest artistes the Palestrina Boys Choir can claim Mayo connections- the three young Casey brothers singing in the choir have grandparents living in Castlebar. Head chorister Ryan Casey (13 ) and his brothers Christian (11 ) and Dylan (nine ) are grandchildren of Gerry and Sue Casey from Pontoon Road, Castlebar. Making it a family occasion, Walter will be joined by his sisters Stephanie, Breda, and Connie for this special concert of liturgical music and song.
Speaking this week, Walter said the concert would be a musical reunion bringing together many of the county’s most accomplished musicians. “I am really looking forward to next week’s concert- it is amazing the goodwill that people have shown towards the event and it is wonderful that all of these very fine musicians are coming to Castlebar to perform free of charge for this very special concert.”
Organist Siobhan Kilkelly who will be performing the well loved Widor’s Toccata in F at the concert said she was delighted to be returning home to play at the concert. Audrey Casey, mum to Ryan, Dylan, and Christian in the Palestrina Boys Choir said that the boys were really looking forward to singing in Castlebar, “Ryan, Dylan, and Christian are really excited about performing in Castlebar- it’s up there with singing for the Pope in Rome as one of their highlights of the year”.
The concert commences at 8.30pm on Saturday April 27 and tickets cost €10 and are available in advance from Walter Donoghue, Moneen, Castlebar; Downtown Records Castlebar and Westport; Clarke’s Convenience Store, Ballina; Walkins Gift Shop, Ballinrobe; and La Belle Femme, Claremorris.
