Saturday, November 25, 8pm
Great National Hotel Ballina
Tickets €20 + booking fee

Ballina has experienced an incredible year, and to continue with the 300th Birthday celebrations, the Moy Singers have created a show to reflect their own 37 year history of performing locally.

In addition to the almost 50 voices of their four-part choir, their special guests this year are the Sligo Academy of Music with their Jazz Orchestra and Sinfonietta, conducted by their acclaimed Musical Director, Niamh Crowley. Niamh is a much loved and highly respected musician, having performed with the likes of Michael Bublé, Andrea Bocelli and Jose Carerras.

There will also be solo pieces performed by Soprano Aoife Anderson and the Moy Singers’ own Musical Director, Jonathan Carter.

Chairperson Evelyn Judge said: ”We look forward to bringing the Christmas spirit with traditional carols and other festive songs performed by choir members. In addition our guests this year will include a 65 piece orchestra, a string quartet, soloists, and a jazz orchestra.”

“It will be an incredible night of song, music and audience participation.”

This year the concert is taking place on Saturday 25th November in the Great National Hotel, commencing at 8pm. There will also be a cash raffle.

Tickets are available from all choir members, the Great National Hotel, Ballina Chamber/Tourist Office (Pearse Street) and online at the link below.

Friday November 24 and Saturday November 25
Ballina, Co. Mayo
Various Venues

Ballina Climate Action Weekend, now in its third year and led by Ballina – Ireland’s Greenest Town, Ballina Chamber of Commerce and the Mary Robinson Centre is a tactical weekend of meaningful climate action initiatives, aligned to and amplifying the work done at grass roots level in Ballina.

The aim of the weekend is to showcase the great climate positive work taking place in Ballina and engage a wider audience in these initiatives to build awareness, scale and momentum in Ballina’s bid to become Ireland’s Greenest Town.

This year’s Climate Action Weekend takes place on Friday 24^th and Saturday 25^th November, with support from Ballina 2023, CARO Atlantic Seaboard North and AIB.

Key priorities for this year’s programme include highlighting funding opportunities for businesses and communities, and promoting responsible consumption and production via the circular economy.

Friday, November 17, 8pm
Ballina Arts Centre
Tickets: €15

About BRÍDÍN

Contemporary folk harpist, singer and composer BRÍDÍN, carries on the tradition of Irish music into the fourth generation of her family.

Over the years she has achieved many accolades for her musical ability including RTÉ Folk Awards Nominee and All Ireland Titles. Her love of music led her to pursue a musical career, having studied music at University College Cork achieving a degree in Music and Irish and Masters in Music and Performance.

BRÍDÍN has developed her own style influenced by her natural surroundings and rooted in her background in traditional Irish music. She uses her loop and effect pedals to create her musical pieces. Her layered melodies on harp and voice blend beautifully with contrapuntal fiddle, keyboard, electric guitar and bass, woven together with pulsating drums.

BRÍDÍN grew up in a funeral home and is a funeral director and embalmer at her father’s funeral home in Ballina and Sligo town, McGowan’s Funeral Home and has always found from a young age she has been fascinated by life and death, helping her to form a great appreciation of life and inspiring her music. “I’m fascinated by the constant flow of nature and the beginning and ending of life”, she says. “Music is my love, emotional outlet and acts as my healer.”

Speaking about her debut, self-titled album, BRÍDÍN says: “This album is my best work yet. I’m so proud of every last note and the musicians who have joined me. I can feel a real honest journey throughout of grief and healing, and I hope it helps people as much as it’s helped me.”

BRÍDÍN’s recent national television performances include ‘The Late Late Show’, ‘The Tommy Tiernan Show’, ‘Ireland AM’ and ‘The Main Stage’ and many national radio interviews and live studio sessions. Performed on the main stage at Electric Picnic and more with Denise Chaila 2022.

bridinmusic.com

Saturday, November 11, 8pm
St Muredach’s Cathedral Ballina
THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT.

The performance is part of the Ballina 2023 celebrations and is the first time Handel’s “Messiah” will be performed in full in Ballina and the first time an entire oratorio will be performed in the town.

Anticipation is building for the once-in-a-lifetime performance in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Saturday, November 11 by the renowned St. Muredach’s Cathedral Choir of Handel’s ‘Messiah’.

Under the direction of choral director Regina Deacy, and part of the Ballina 2023 celebrations, the performance will be accompanied by the Irish Choral Sinfonia Orchestra, and will mark the first time Handel’s Messiah has been performed in full in Ballina. St Muredach’s Cathedral choir are delighted to be joined by some members of Cór Mhaigh Eo, a Mayo-wide mixed voice choir directed by Dr Brian Lennon. The soloists for this performance are Rachel Croash (soprano), Ann Marie Gibbons (alto), David Lynn (Tenor) and Rory Musgrave (bass).  Tickets are expected to sell out quickly.

Director of St Muredach’s Cathedral Choir, Regina Deacy said: “We have always enjoyed singing the much loved ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from ‘Messiah’ at Easter ceremonies in the cathedral and in concerts down through the years in the town and we felt it was time to explore and learn more excerpts from this choral masterpiece! Combined with professional soloists, the Irish Choral Sinfonia orchestra, and members of Cór Mhaigh Eo, we are excited to present this work in the magnificent building of St Muredach’s, and delighted that it coincides with Ballina’s 300^th birthday.”

Director with Ballina 2023, Annette Maughan commented: “2023 has been a celebration of Ballina’s establishment 300 years ago, and Handel’s incredible oratorio is also almost 300 years old. Less than 20 years after Ballina was established, Handel was writing this body of work which premiered in Ireland. Ballina is so renowned for its choral talent, and we are thrilled to have the prestigious St Muredach’s Cathedral Choir performing this seminal work as part of our calendar of events.”

Ms Maughan continued: Ballina 2023 also places a strong focus on legacy, and the proceeds of this unforgettable night will help to secure the future of one of St Muredach’s Cathedral’s finest features, its incredible stained glass windows, for future generations.”

Tickets for the St Muredach’s Cathedral Choir’s Production of Handel’s ‘Messiah’, priced at €27.50, are available from the Ballina Parish Office from Wednesday, October 4. Call 096 70555 or buy online at www.ballinaparish.org.

Proceeds will go towards the restoration and conservation of the Cathedral’s stained-glass windows.

St Muredach’s Cathedral Choir has been an institution at St Muredach’s Cathedral on the banks of the famous River Moy, since the mid- nineteenth century. The SATB choir has a membership of over forty choristers and is a successful blend of experienced and young voices. The repertoire of the choir includes liturgical music by Irish and International composers, plainchant and motets. The choir sing at 11am mass every Sunday in St Muredach’s Cathedral as well as at the usual liturgical highpoints in the seasons of the church year.

In 2010 the choir provided music for the 6pm mass on the Feast of Christ the King in Westminster Cathedral, London. In 2012, they led the singing at one of the masses of The Eucharistic Congress in Dublin and in 2014 the choir sang at the Mass of the Vatican Chapter in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome. They have also presented many concerts for charitable events in the community.

Regina is the organist in St Muredach’s Cathedral and Director of Sacred Music there, and in Killala Diocese.

A graduate of UCC with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music, she also received a Diploma in Church Music and Liturgy from NUI Maynooth and from there, completed a research Masters Degree in Sacred Music under Professor Gerard Gillen. Regina is an Associate of the Royal Irish Academy of Music in piano teaching and a member of the National Advisory Committee on Church Music to the Bishops.

Regina teaches music full-time in St Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina, where she also directs the school choir for school liturgies, concerts and competitions and the annual school musical.

She directs St Muredach’s Cathedral choir, trains cantors and organists in the parish and has conducted several workshops on sacred music in the diocese. Regina directed St Muredach’s Cathedral Choir in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome and also in Westminster Cathedral in London where they performed at Masses. She also directed a massed choir at The Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 2012 and also in the RDS, Dublin at the World Meeting of Families in 2018. She has also been organ tutor at the Irish Church Music Association Summer School in Maynooth since 2003.