Ormond Octaves concert for St Cronan's Day Services is a guaranteed musical treat

A memorable night of song and music awaits in Roscrea when the Ormond Octaves Choir and special guests perform in concert in aid of St Cronan’s Day Services in the town’s Catholic church on Friday, February 17 , at 8pm.

The 60-member choir from Nenagh, which brought a record attendance to its recent amazing sellout Christmas charity concert in a packed St Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, will be joined on the night by Tipperary’s very own Princess of Country Music and Glór Tíre competition winner, Aisling Rafferty, along with Roscrea students from Scoil Eoin NS, Scoil Mhuire, Lismakin, Dromakeenan NS, Gael Scoil Shlí Dála and performers from St Cronan’s, Rose Lineen and Linda De Lewis.

“We are absolutely thrilled and honoured and looking forward to putting on our very best show for such a worthy cause as St Cronan’s Day Services,” said the musical director of the Ormond Octaves, Niamh Ryan, who founded the four-voice choir in 2008, and whose charity concerts over the past 14 years have crammed churches and community halls and raised tens of thousands of euro for worthy causes throughout north Tipperary and the Mid-West.

The truly talented Aisling Rafferty, who already in her budding singing career has rightly earned the reputation as one of Ireland’s top rising female country music stars, also said she was looking forward to performing on the night with “the wonderful Ormond Octaves” and other guests in aid of St Cronan’s Day Services.

“This is going to be a fantastic night of music you will not want to miss,” said Aisling, who like everyone is hoping people get out now and buy the tickets on sale for the hugely anticipated concert.

The Octaves, whose mix of tenors, altos, sopranos and basses, creates a delightful symphony of sounds, have been rehearsing for the past month specifically for the upcoming concert.

“We just couldn’t think of a better cause than to perform for St Cronan’s, who are providing tremendous services to people in our community here in north Tipperary and further afield,” said Niamh.

St Cronan’s Association provides a range of disability services across its four sites to 150-plus adults, and its main centre is based in Roscrea. There are two service locations in Nenagh, which are located in Springfort Meadows and Melrose, and a service in Syngefield, Birr.

Its centre in Roscrea provides services for people living with a mild-moderate intellectual disability, offering a diverse programme of opportunities, including day services, Pobal funded Ability programme, supported self-directed living programmes, outreach services, community supports, educational programmes and the Foundation Level HSE funded Rehabilitative Training Programme, along with activities such community integration, arts, horticulture and multi-sensory activities, in line with National Policy New Directions.

“We take a person-centered approach which promotes learner progression and helps to create pathways to support each person to reach their full potential,” said Mary Frend, service coordinator at St Cronan’s Services and concert organiser, who added: “I would love if people would support our concert on the night.”

Tickets (€20) for the concert are available at the parish offices in Roscrea, Birr and Templemore. They are also available in Cinnamon Alley café in Nenagh and in The Bookworm in Thurles.