Battle of the choirs to benefit Clarinbridge healing centre

Date Published: 21-Mar-2013

Choirs from six Galway based companies and organisations will battle it out at Galway’s first ever Choirfactor competition next month in the Radisson Blu Hotel’s Live Lounge.

The event which is loosely based on the hugely popular UK series Choirfactor will see choirs from Medtronic, Hewlett-Packard, NUI Galway, Galway University Hospital, Galway Bay Golf Club and the Marine Institute go head to head in front of a live audience and adjudicators for the Choir Factor Perpetual Cup.

Renowned singer/ song writer Julie Feeney joins the panel of adjudicators which also includes Cois Cladaigh Musical Director Brendan O’Connor and Máire Mac Lochlainn, founder of Music Matters in New Inn.

The choirs are directed by experienced choral directors, Liz Johnston, Carmel Dooley, Pat Lillis, Seamus Leonard, Eoin Grealis and Peter Mannion, all of whom have given their time voluntarily to support the initiative. The choirs will each perform three pieces at the concert which takes place at 8pm on Friday, April 12. Audiences are promised an enjoyable evening with music ranging from Bach to Lady Gaga!

The event is the brainchild of the Chairman of Corrib Lions Club, Liam Bluett, who hopes that the evening will raise funds for the development of Kilcuan Retreat and Healing Centre in Clarinbridge.

SCCUL Enterprises Ltd, a community based company set-up in co-operation with St Columba’s Credit Union Ltd, id developing Kilcuan as a retreat and healing centre for community groups and members of the public, he explains.

“Funds raised from this concert will enable a wide variety of groups such as carers, the elderly, multiple sclerosis sufferers, people living with cancer and those bereaved by suicide to benefit from healing therapies and wellbeing workshops in Kilcuan.”

Tickets costing €15/ €10 concessions are available from the Ballybane Enterprise Centre ( 091 386 004) or any of the participating organisations – Medtronic, Hewlett- Packard, Galway Bay Golf Club, Galway University Hospital, NUI Galway and the Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore.