Ormond Octaves Choir to bring festive cheer with their star-studded Christmas concert

It’s the most wonderful time of the year as the Ormond Octaves choir raises the roof to let in the real atmosphere of Christmas when singers and musicians perform what promises to be a delightful seasonal charity concert in Saint Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh on Friday night, December 15.

Come along and let the spirit of the Yuletide envelop you as the choir of over 60 members, along with a host of talented guests, serve up songs and carols of Christmas and a string of memorable hits of the ages.

The choir, backed by an orchestra of top musicians, will take you on a journey of the greatest songs of the decades, from centuries-old adored seasonal carols and great classics from the era of Elvis Presley and Leonard Coen, right up to the modern era.

Featuring on the hugely entertaining programme will be the sounds of Coldplay, Billy Joel, U2, Frank Sinatra and Simon and Garfunkel.

Among the top numbers to be performed by the choir include the highly popular hit Shallow, the song made famous by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, while a lineup of soloists will perform delightful numbers fitting for this time of the year.

Returning for the annual concert by popular demand this year will be the Tipperary bass baritone Derek Ryan who will bring the audience back over a century to enjoy that sentimental plea of love, Macushla, recorded in 1911 by the renowned tenor John McCormack, before following up with the Frank Sinatra’s biggest selling hit, My Way.

Another special guest on the night will be tenor Willie O’ Brien, from Toomevara, who will perform the hit song from the Phantom of the Opera, Music of the Night, while Emily Sheary will sing the memorable Geroge Gershwin composed, Someone to Watch Over Me.

Soloist Peter Walsh will sing the beautiful Love Walked In, also composed by Gershwin, while Niamh Slattery will treat everyone to the atmospheric prayer to the Virgin Mary, Ave Maria. Denise Brislane will sing the popular hit, Never Enough from The Greatest Showman; Eithne Kennedy will perform the lovely Sarah Brightman hit from the Phantom of the Opera, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, while Peter Gleeson will sing the popular 1960s pop love song, The End the World.

The centerpiece of the evening will be the songs performed by the entire choir, which features some of the top voices from Nenagh and all the surrounding parishes. Under the direction of the Ormond Octaves founder and musical director Niamh Ryan, the choir has been rehearsing for almost four months and is now intent on treating its audience to a truly memorable night.

In full flight, the mingled sounds of the four-voice choir of sopranos, altos, basses and tenors is a joy to behold. Their signing is just the perfect way to lull you into the atmosphere of the season and provide an opportunity for you to enjoy a true celebration of the season of Christmas.

You’ll really know that special time of the year has arrived when the Templederry based tenor Liam Brennan leads the choir in Andrea Bocelli’s The Greatest Gift, while Munster Fleadh winner Mary Meagher, from Toomevara, returns again to delight with the exquisite and soulful, Breath of Heaven.

Other Christmas favourites will include In the Bleak Mid Winter, Walking In the Air and Oh Holy Night.

Not only will the concert bring joy to you heart this Christmas, but the revenue from the ticket you purchase will go back to fund works in the beautiful Nenagh church where the choir has performed each Yuletide season since it was founded by Niamh Ryan in 2008.

Almost every year since then audiences have packed the historic church to enjoy the songs of the season, while also having the pleasure of knowing that the funds raised from ticket sales have resulted in tens of thousands of euro being donated by the choir to a host of local charities and other deserving causes over the past 16 years.

Last year alone the audience of over 1,000 that packed the church to capacity for the annual concert generated a whopping €10,000 for the Children’s Grief Centre.

So, come along and enjoy a night not to be missed in the knowledge that your support goes a long way to enhance services in our local community.

Tickets, €20, can be got at Cinnamon Alley café, or from choir members. Tickets will also be on sale at the door of the church on the night.