Well known Kildare choir celebrates 50th birthday

The Nás na Rí Singers will celebrate their 5oth anniversary with a 50th anniversary gala concert which will take place on  December 1 at 8pm, in the Church of Our Lady and St. David, Sallins Road, Naas.  

The choir was established in 1972, in the old cotton mills  building in the  town. The first musical director was Michael Weedle, a native of Cork, who  taught at Clongowes Wood College, Clane, and who continued to direct the choir until 1993.  

The choral standard achieved under the baton of Mr Weedle set a high standard which continues  to this day. 

The group distinguishes itself in size (currently 72 members) and repertoire, and in particular, by their ability to perform ‘big’ works from genius composers such  as Bach, Handel, Mozart, Vivaldi and Fauré. 

More contemporary works from Willcocks, Rutter, and Whitacre, feature regularly and ‘The  Armed Man’ by Karl Jenkins was performed by the choir in Caragh Church, in May of this year  accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra. On the same night, the choir delivered a  poignant rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem, moving many in the audience to tears.  

Over the past 50 years, tours of Germany and Russia, followed by Denmark, the Isle of Man,  Czech Republic, and England, forged long standing friendships both in Naas and abroad, with  return visits from Russian and German choirs. More recently, St. David’s Cathedral Singers  from Wales (Naas is officially twinned with St. David’s) performed in a joint concert with The  Nás na Rí Singers in the hometown of Naas.  

Musical directors throughout the 90’s included Josephine Barry, John Francis Murphy, and  Andrew Mackriell. European trips were interspersed with regular concerts throughout County Kildare and a schedule of Christmas, Easter, and summer entertainment, ranging from  Christmas carols to movie themes, and a myriad of folk, traditional and spiritual music, was  established.  

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The new millennium saw the baton handed on to Clive Armstrong, who led the choir to the  National Concert Hall in Dublin for a ‘musical extravaganza’, and then twice to the Royal Albert Hall in London, to join other international choirs for large-scale “sing days”. 

But the  choir was just at home in local churches in Naas, Carbury, Saggart, and Ballycane, much  to the benefit of charities such as the Nás na Ríogh Housing Association, Care of the Aged  Naas, Michael Garry House, St.incent de Paul, Enable Ireland, and Crumlin Hospital.  

Following Clive’s retirement, the choir chose a new Musical Director, Alan Kelly, who  encouraged the singers to return to competition with a view to improving the standard of  performance and keeping everyone on their toes. 

After the serious business of competing, they enthusiastically returned home to The  Pavilion at Punchestown Racecourse, with Music from the Movies, featuring Morricone,  Williams, Gershwin, Mancini, and Lloyd Weber, and accompanied by a 20 piece big brass band.  

Eurovision winner Fionnuala Sherry (herself a native of Naas and daughter of a founding choir  member, the late Ben Sherry), headlined the 40th anniversary concert which took place in the  Ballroom of the Kilashee Hotel in 2012. It was an unforgettable night, made even more special  by the guests who included Rolf Lovland from Secret Garden, who is the composer of the  worldwide hit You Raise Me Up. The MC for the night was the late Tom  Hickey, renowned actor, perhaps best known as Benjy in the TV series The Riordans. Tom  was a native of Naas, and brother of founding choir member, Anne Marie Rigney (née Hickey).  

In the 10 years since the 40th birthday, the choir has been under the baton of Áine Mulvey and is  currently led by Nathan Barrett. Áine commissioned a wonderful short movie by José Prada entitled ‘Nás na Rí Singers, A Choral Community’. This film captured the magic of the special  group dynamic that exists in the group, as well as the scientifically proven benefits  of singing in terms of mental health, social inclusion, and community outreach. Charities again benefitted from choir performances including Saplings Centre of  Excellence, Naas Church Restoration Fund, The Samaritans, HopeD, Make-A-Wish Ireland,  Naas Homeless Care CLG, and the most recent beneficiary is the Irish Red Cross.  

The importance of singing was never more valued than in 2020 when Covid became a  household word. The Naas choir rose to the challenge of survival in what was to become a 2- year period of restrictions. Musical directors Nathan Barrett, teamed up  with accompanist Judith Gannon, and chairperson Edel Fitzmaurice and her committee, to  move rehearsals online. As the first choir in Ireland to use dedicated music software and  equipment, this innovation enabled members to keep practising and learning, and to enjoy  continued weekly socialising and friendship while in lockdown. This spirit of survival brings the choir to its 50th anniversary as a much-loved Naas community organisation.  

In recognition of the contributions of all, the choir will  perform again on Thursday, December 1. Special guests include the famous trad duo, Zoë Conway and John  McIntyre. Tickets €20 are available from choir members, Barker and Jones Bookshop Naas,  and online from Eventbrite.  

The choir will also host an informal get-together for all members, past and present, on Sunday  December 18. For further details of this, please email nasnarisingers@gmail.com or contact  a choir member.