Within the surrounds of the Franciscan Friary, a festive atmosphere abounded as festive carols graced the 31st edition of the Samaritans Christmas concert.
The perennially popular concert featured the Army Band of the 2nd Brigade, under the baton of Captain John Carpenter who commenced proceedings with the National Anthem, this being followed by the seasonal overture to Miracle on 34th Street.
The compere for the evening was Joe MacCarrick, who welcomed the audience with the observation that the RTE Toy Show marked the beginning of Christmas for many children but that for him it was this concert that marked the beginning of the festive season. He then introduced the award winning Athlone A Cappella Choir, conducted by Hilary Roche, who delighted the attendance with their performance of Ding Dong Merrily on High, The Sound of Silence, Come What May and Carol of the Bells.
The Band of the 2nd Brigade then performed Concert Étude for Solo Trumpet, featuring the remarkable Bandsman Andrea Rodaro, followed by an arrangement of the popular Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves.
The concert soloist, Mezzo Soprano Gemma Ní Bhrían from Dublin, was then introduced and she gave a remarkable recital of Biset’s Habenera, Mozart’s Voi Che Sapete and Bernstein’s I Feel Pretty. Gemma has been developing a fine reputation as a young opera singer both nationally and abroad and, while she may not have been well known in Athlone up to now, she will certainly be readily recognised and admired throughout the region in the future. The Band of the 2nd Brigade then brought the first half of the programme to a close with a piece entitled A Calipso.
The Concert resumed with the band playing one of JP Sousa’s best known marches, Semper Fidelis. The Athlone Pipe Band then made their arrival, marching up the church to the applause of the audience. The played their ever popular tunes Highland Cathedral and Tostal, supported by the Army Band, to rapturous applause.
Gemma Ní Bhrían then delighted the attendance with her powerful renditions of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, O Holy Night and I Could Have Danced All Night.
The Band of the 2nd Brigade played A Most Wonderful Christmas and they supported Gemma, the A Cappella Choir and the Congregation in a Sing Along of O Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night.
Joe MacCarrick, on behalf of Athlone Midland Samaritans and Deirdre Collins, thanked Fr Gabriel for again facilitating the holding of the concert in the Friary Church, Captain John Carpenter and each member of the band for their willing and enthusiastic support of the concert. She also wished to thank the main sponsor Athlone and Castlerea Credit Union and all the other generous sponsors, Midland Sound Equipment who provided the acoustics, the Friary ladies who decorated the church and Michael O’Brien and his team who put up the Christmas trees.
Captain Carpenter then delighted the audience by announcing that the band were going to play Fairytale of New York before closing the concert with the ever popular and seasonal Sleigh Ride. They received a well deserved standing ovation in acknowledgement of their very polished performance.
Speaking afterwards, Deirdre Collins expressed her gratitude that the Samaritans continue to receive such support from the community and was delighted that the concert is now available to view on the Midlands Polish Community Channel MPC-TV. YouTube.
To date, the recording has had more than 2,000 views form Ireland, UK, France, Australia and the US.
The Samaritans are available on freecall 116123 24hrs for anyone who wishes to call about anything that might be bothering them.
