Seasonal favourites and local soloists to raise funds for The A Team autism support group

Nenagh’s Christmas season will open this Friday when the Ormond Octaves return to Saint Mary of the Rosary Church for their annual charity concert, joined by guest baritone Dylan Rooney.

The evening will feature seasonal favourites including Oh Holy Night, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and the wistful I’ll Be Home For Christmas.

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Niamh Ryan, the choir’s founder and musical director, has assembled what she calls a spell binding programme that blends Yuletide standards with well known songs from across the decades.

Since its establishment in 2008, the choir’s annual concert has raised tens of thousands of euro for local causes. This year’s proceeds will support The A Team, the voluntary group that runs youth clubs in Nenagh for children in North Tipperary who are living with autism.

Two guest soloists from Toomevara will also perform. Tenor Willie O Brien will sing Empty Chairs And Empty Tables from Les Misérables and Come To Me Bend To Me from Brigadoon. He will join the choir later for Christmas 1915, a long standing favourite with Octaves audiences.

Alto Mary Meagher will perform A Winter Blessing by Nenagh born songwriter Brendan Graham and will return for Breath of Heaven with the choir.

The choir’s varied set list includes Africa by Toto, She’s Always A Woman by Billy Joel, Super Trooper by Abba and Don McLean’s Vincent. Several choir members will take solo spots. Emily Sheary will sing Dont Cry For Me Argentina, Edwina Morrissey will perform Where Do Broken Hearts Go, Liam Brennan will sing Steve Earle’s Nothing But A Child and Peter Gleeson will revisit John Denver’s Today.

Anna Duggan will join the group for David Essex’s A Winter’s Tale and Catherine O Keeffe will lead Christmas Hallelujah.

Further selections include music by Simon and Garfunkel, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and two Lady Gaga songs, Shallow and Always Remember Us This Way.

Other programmed favourites are Lean on Me by Bill Withers, You Are The Reason by Calum Scott and John Williams’ 1990 Christmas piece Somewhere In My Memory.

The 80 strong choir, comprising sopranos, altos, tenors and basses, has built a loyal following across Tipperary with its full and resonant sound.

Tickets cost 20 euro and are available from choir members or from the Parish Office on Church Road in Nenagh at 067 31272. They will also be sold at the church doors on the night.

Patrons can expect a strong evening of music while supporting a voluntary group that works closely with children living with autism in the community.

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