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Ballybrown Church Choir

About Us

Our Church Choir​ has been a regular part of parish life in Ballybrown for almost forty years beginning in 1986. We are an adult choir and perform a wide selection of music ranging from traditional favourites through to the present day. 

 

The choir numbers have varied over the years but generally fluctuate between the low to mid 30s, and occasionally up to 40+ members.   

Our primary focus is on the Christmas festive season and Easter.  The choir also sings for certain other church feast days and solemnities, and by invitation for family occasions such as funerals, anniversaries and month's minds and the occasional community event.


You can see a history of Ballybrown Choir's main performances since the early 1990s here.

And to view a summary of other events, outings  and performances by Ballybrown Choir over the years please click here.

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Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings in Ballybrown Church usually from around September to April, depending on the church calendar for a particular year.  No audition is needed and you don't have to be a great singer to become involved. All you need is a love of singing in a fun environment with great camaraderie and a desire to get along with everyone and make music together.  â€‹

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Conductor: RoseMary Locke

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History

Ballybrown Church Choir was formed in 1986 at the instigation of our then curate Fr. Pat Hogan, with Jim O’Farrell as  our conductor and Mrs. Mary Murphy as accompanist.
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​From the very beginning and over the intervening years we have provided the seasonal musical settings for Christmas and Holy Week/Easter ceremonies and festivities.  In addition, we have enjoyed a number of collaborations with other choirs, participating in Limerick Choral Festival (formerly the Limerick Festival of Church Music), Lyric FM's Christmas Choral Extravaganza in the University Concert Hall, as well as RTE Radio live broadcasts of Mass and other services from Ballybrown Church.   There have been many plaudits for the choir amongst which we especially treasure some very kind words  (reproduced on our Photo Gallery page) from the pen of the renowned musician and composer Bill Whelan of "Riverdance" fame.

An unusual and probably unique performance occurred in June 2001 during the visit of the relics of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower”, to Limerick.  As part of the visit, the relics were displayed in Limerick Prison.  Ballybrown Choir was invited to provide music during the prisoners' veneration of the relics and for us the experience was both an honour and a privilege.  The narrow prison stairs were our risers with each step barely wide enough to hold two people. That Tuesday in June was an unforgettably brief but stark insight into life "on the inside".

Over the years we have also enjoyed many social outings together with various opportunities for New Music workshops.  

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