Crookstown Parish Church hosts Christmas charity concert

A fantastic evening of seasonal favourites is happening on December 19 in Crookstown Parish

Church (SS. Laurence and Mary), with the proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society.

It features the award-winning Baldonnell Singers, well-known tenor Paul Linehan and rising star of musical theatre Kelly Rose Kerins.

It promises to be a musical extravaganza of Christmas favourites, led by the popular Baldonnell

Singers, who are a 30-strong male voice choir that has entertained audiences in the Kildare and

Dublin area for the past 20 years.

Founded in 2003, the choir performs a varied repertoire, from classical to operatic and contemporary music. The choir has performed in many interesting venues

for important audiences including the Aviva Stadium for a home international, visiting dignitaries of

the EU during the Irish Presidency and for the President and members of Government at the

National Day of Commemoration.

They have most recently performed in the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Concert in the Mansion House. Their musical director is David Lannigan and their accompanist is Máire Mannion.

Paul Linehan is a local tenor, who has performed on both the national and international stages for

the last thirty years. As well as being a classical and operatic tenor, he has performed shows based

on the music of Joseph Locke, the songs of Thomas Moore and Percy French, and a historical project called “Birth of a Nation” based on music from the nascent Irish state.

A native of Cork, he has written, composed and toured a musical called “Annie Moore- First Immigrant”, which is based on the life of the young Irish immigrant first through Ellis Island in 1892, who also happens to be Paul’s first cousin three generations back.

He was recently awarded a bursary from the Arts Council for composing a song-cycle, based on local historic sites.

The Christmas season is always busy for Paul, having just finished concerts with the Army Band in the Curragh and Athlone, with the Drawing Room Opera Company in the National Concert Hall and Dundrum, and with the Baldonnell Singers and the Nás na Rí Singers in Naas.

Kelly Rose Kerins is a young singer from Kildare, who is fast making a name for herself in the world of musical theatre. She has been training in this genre from a young age and competed in the World Championship Competitions for Performing Arts in Los Angeles, securing a scholarship in the process.

She is currently in production of her first album with Grammy-winning LA producer Jeff

Weber, while also finding time to run her own academy of music.

The concert is an effort to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society, a charity whose work is valued by all, especially in this locality.

“Over the past few years, we have lost a number of our community, including young mothers, to this disease. The supports available through the Irish Cancer Society help people to deal with some of the difficulties they face, both while undergoing treatment and also in the aftermath of their passing, by providing care for the families”, says Paul Linehan.

“Particularly important are the Daffodil Nurses, who are working with some families in our area, and also the Transport Service, which provides volunteer drivers to transport cancer patients to and from their hospital chemotherapy treatments.

“We hope the funds raised help to provide the financial support necessary to maintain these valuable services.”

Paul says there will be a raffle on the night, with some excellent prizes and hampers to be won, so come along and enjoy a fabulous night’s entertainment, while supporting this very worthy cause.

Tickets for the concert are available from the Old Hardware in Narraghmore, or on

www.eventbrite.ie