AS with Lions Clubs internationally, Castletroy’s branch is dedicated to the altruistic vow of “we serve”. To this end, it has organised a concert with Voices of Limerick to benefit local charities Monaleen Cancer Support Group and Milford Care Centre.
According to Castletroy Lions Club president Ken McAuley, “We try to raise funds for good causes in the community and for various community projects. We host the concert at Mary Help of Christians Church at Milford on Thursday October 15, 8pm. Voices of Limerick are giving their time for free and virtually all funds raised through the 25euro ticket will go to the two named charities”.
Cork based, internationally rated soprano Cara O’Sullivan is the star of the show. “I planning the programme in consultation with Colette Davis, director of Voices of Limerick. We have put together a wonderful, feel-good, eclectic selection in which I will be singing Casta Diva from Bellini’s Norma, a very well known operatic aria with choir. Voices of Limerick will do Shenandoah, a native American Indian air, and I’ll sing O Mio Babbino Caro, my beloved father”.
With three concerts each month to prepare for prior to a Spring tour of Los Angeles and San Francisco and on to Houston, O’Sullivan is the booked for Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor in Dublin.
“And le cúnamh Dé, I hope to be back in Thomond Park in January for the Heineken Cup Series. The terraces, God bless them, fill to capacity with support to sing along with me and that’s what I’m there for, to warm up them and the boys as they come out to play”.
That sense of mischief informs some purloining of tenor songs, for the Milford church concert at which Ciara Moroney is pianist.
“I’m robbing two songs written for tenors, Because and Mattinata, but what about it…they will have to build a bridge to come after me”.
No such hardship faces the Thursday 15 audience but Cara O’Sullivan recommends you bring a cushion for comfort: “We always get an ovation in a church. People can’t wait to hop up and give us one!”
Tickets in advance for what promises to be a delightful night of carefully delivered music are available through Medicare Pharmacy in University Court and Castletroy Shopping Centre and at the church door for 8pm performance.
Cara O’Sullivan leads a charity fundraiser for Castletroy Lions Club at Milford Church, 8pm on Thursday October 15.
