ST PAUL’S Church was filled with the sound of music last Friday evening, 14 November, when the children of The Downs NS school choir got the chance to collaborate with the world-renowned singing group, the Celtic Tenors, at a concert fundraiser.
By Michelle Crawley
Huge crowds made their way to the church for the unique opportunity to hear the Celtic Tenors join forces with the Downs NS choir in what can only be described as a wonderful evening of song. “It was absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere was electric. We all had a brilliant time,” expressed Muriel Flynn, chairperson of The Downs NS Parents’ Council.
“There was a lively crowd and the Celtic Tenors themselves were thrilled with that. They really enjoyed it,” added Muriel, explaining that last Friday’s concert was one of the few Irish performances the singing group, which comprises of James Nelson, Matthew Gilsenan, and Daryl Simpson, are making for the remainder of the year, as they get set to travel to the USA on tour.
THE CELTIC TENORS
The singing group, who have sold millions of albums all over the world and regularly play for global audiences in packed concert halls in the world’s major cities, are known for their invigorating style, and certainly brought wonderful energy and enthusiasm with them on the night. And so impressed were the three tenors with the standard of The Downs NS choir that they asked them back at the end of their set for an encore performance!
FUNDRAISER
The concert was organised by The Downs NS Parents’ Council to raise funds to cover the cost of the site for the school’s new building. The school has been given approval by the Department of Education and Skills for funding to build a state-of-the-art energy conservation school which incorporates the integral historic structure of the old school building with new contemporary classroom design and is currently raising funds to cover the cost of the site adjacent to the current school building and prefabs. Plans for the new school, which will include the addition of 5 new mainstream classrooms and two resource rooms, are almost ready to be submitted to the county planner for planning permission.
