Hugely popular Christmas concert set to return to Tipperary in early December

The joy of Christmas in Nenagh is set to spectacularly unfold when the Ormond Octaves choir and special guest soloist Dylan Rooney perform a festive charity concert in Saint Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh, on Friday night, December 5.
The sacred venue will be filled with all the magic of the Yuletide season as the choir and its wonderful guest baritone collaborate to treat you to a delightful programme of festive musical favourites.

Come along and soak up the atmosphere of this special time of year and listen to Dylan Rooney and the choir indulge you with classic favourites such as Oh Holy Night, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and the beautifully sad and nostalgic, I'll Be Home For Christmas.

Ormond Octaves Founder and Musical Director, Niamh Ryan, has compiled a spell-binding programme that not alone includes the best Yuletide numbers, but also some of the greatest songs from almost every generation.

Since its foundation in 2008, the Ormond Octaves annual concert has generated tens of thousands of euro for local charities and other worthy causes.

This year, all proceeds from the musical extravaganza will be presented to The A-Team, a voluntary group who runs youth clubs in Nenagh for children from all over North Tipperary living with autism.

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OTHER GUESTS
Two other guest soloists performing on the night will be tenor Willie O' Brien and alto, Mary Meagher, both from Toomevara. Willie will sing Empty Chairs And Empty Tables, the hit song from Les Misérables as well as Come To Me, Bend To Me - the popular song from the musical, Brigadoon. Willie will also join with the choir to perform Christmas 1915, one of the most popularly requested songs by Octave concert audiences down the years.

Mary Meagher will perform A Winter Blessing, a beautiful number written by the Nenagh-born world renowned songwriter, Brendan Graham, and she will later join the choir to sing the splendorous number, Breath of Heaven.

Among the songs the choir will perform will be the Toto hit, Africa; the Billy Joel number, She's Always A Woman; the Abba chart-topper, Super Trooper, and the exquisite Don McLean hit, Vincent.

SOLOISTS
Several members of the Octaves will perform solo numbers, including what is truly a beautiful interpretation of Don't Cry For Me Argentina by Emily Sheary.

Edwina Morrissey will perform a song made famous by Whitney Hueston, Where Do Broken Hearts Go; Liam Brennan will sing the festive Steve Earl hit, Nothing But A Child, while Peter Gleeson will resurrect the popular John Denver number, Today.

Anna Duggan will join with the choir to perform the atmospheric David Essex Christmas hit, A Winter's Tale, while Catherine O' Keeffe will front the choir in singing Christmas Hallelujah.

CHOIR NUMBERS
Memorable songs to be performed will include some of the greatest sounds of Simon & Garfunkel, as well as that American patriotic song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, as well as two Lady Gaga hits, Shallow and Always Remember Us This Way.

Other favourite will include the 1970s Billy Withers uplifting number Lean on Me; the Callum Scott song, You Are The Reason and the lovely Christmas John Williams 1990 hit, Somewhere In My Memory.

With its 80-strong members, the four-voice choir of sopranos, altos, tenors and basses create a sumptuous sound that has drawn huge audiences, packing venues all over Tipperary since the choir's beginnings.

TICKETS

Tickets, €20, can be got from any choir member, or from The Parish Office at Church Road, Nenagh (tel. 067-31272). Tickets can also be purchased at the doors of the church on the night of the concert.

A great benefit for patrons is that not only do they get to enjoy a memorable night of music and song, but also the satisfaction that their support ensures a significant financial boost for a voluntary group doing such great work with children who are living with autism in our community. We hope to see you on the night of the show.