Irish Choir Raises €1,500 for Historic Church Restoration

A small Irish choir is proving that harmony extends far beyond music, raising €1,500 to help restore a historic church that has stood since 1820.

The Blessington Millennium Choir presented the donation to St. Mary's Church in Blessington after their annual Christmas concert brought the community together for the 25th consecutive year. The funds will support vital restoration work on St. John's Church in Ballymore Eustace, preserving a piece of local heritage for future generations.

Founded as an ecumenical celebration of the millennium year 2000, the choir has never missed their Christmas concert tradition, even performing during the Covid pandemic. Each year, the 30-member group selects a different local cause to support through their concert proceeds.

Secretary Shay Cunningham, who joined three years ago, explains their commitment to local impact. Previous beneficiaries include Wicklow Cancer Support and Barretstown, a camp for seriously ill children.

The choir's appeal goes beyond charitable giving. For many of the members, mostly over 60, Tuesday night rehearsals at the Kare Centre represent the highlight of their week.

"We always take a break during rehearsals for a cup of tea, and it can be hard to get them back to rehearsing as everyone is still chatting away," Cunningham said. The social connection runs so deep that members insisted on gathering for rehearsal even on St. Patrick's Day when their musical director thought they'd want a break.

The Ripple Effect

Under new musical director John Francis Murphy, who took over after co-founder Yvonne O'Connor's 2024 retirement, the choir continues evolving its repertoire. Their Christmas concert featured Beatles covers, and they're planning Elton John numbers for their upcoming summer concert on May 16 at the Tramway Theatre.

That summer event will benefit another yet-to-be-selected local charity, continuing the choir's quarter-century tradition of turning community connection into tangible support. The group welcomes new members who want to join their mission of making beautiful music with beautiful purpose.

Twenty-five years of concerts, countless cups of tea, and €1,500 at a time, this choir proves that small communities can create lasting change through simple acts of coming together.