Wednesdays at St Mary’s Cathedral
THE free Wednesday lunchtime recitals at St Mary’s Cathedral extend into December – see Diary Dates page 4 each week for fine detail.
There’s a pleasantly varied programme ahead of vocalists and musicians, with cathedral organist Trevor Selby back in train for Wednesday December 9. He expands on the Bach + One series music with a selection of Bach and Elgar.
On December 16, Emma English, soprano, will sing to music by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini and more.
Moving ahead to Wednesday December 23, Selby plays again, this time music for the festive season. Admission free to every recital but you might care to give a bob to the retiring collection in aid of the cathedral music.
Chorals and Clauses
GEORGIAN House has chosen Thursday December 10, 8pm for its annual Christmas concert. The gorgeous upper salons at Pery Square will host local chamber choir Ancór with musical direction by Celia Madden and tenor Derek Moloney as guest vocalist.
As usual at this happy and packed event, mulled wine and mince pies will be served at the interval. Tickets are selling at Georgian House in advance and be warned, this event attracts a standby list longer than Santa’s beard each year.
It’s his turn to shine then, arriving at this venue on Saturday December 12 for one weekend only.
“Santa Claus will be with us on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 from 11am to 6pm and on Monday 14 from 2pm to 6pm,” confirms project manager at the house, Dorothy Meaney.
Tickets provide for a present and a goody bag but photographs are extra, made more attractive by the presence of Mrs Claus and the Elves. Again, this grotto has a dedicated following and bookings in advance are essential.
Zoo Story and Happy Days
RAPPAREE Theatre presents Happy Days, the Beckett play, at Franciscan Church on Friday December 4 at 7.30pm. The actors are Eileen Armstrong and Daryl Buckley.
Zoo Story by Edward Albee is the other production by Rapparee, staging in this Henry Street venue on Thursday December 3 and Saturday 5 at 7.30pm: “a confrontation between the middle-class and the outcasts of society”.
Limerick History & Society
A SLEW of historians and archivists in the Mid West and West have contributed to a new compendium of essays, Limerick History & Society. Mr Bob Collins, Adare man and chairman of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and chief commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, will launch it at Mary Immaculate College on Thursday December 10, 7.30pm.
The editors are historians/ academics Liam Irwin, Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh and Matthew Potter and Geography Publications have brought out the book.
Consider the quality of contributors such as Judith Hill, UL’s John Logan and PJ O’Connor, the MIC based editors and Brian Hodkinson of Limerick Museum, for an idea of this tome’s weight and resonance.
Listen with the Ear of the Heart
THE acclaimed spiritual singer and doctor in theology, Noirin Ni Riain, has invited Dr Loretta Brennan Glucksman, chair American Ireland Fund, to launch Ni Riain’s autobiography at Daghdha Space next week.
‘Listen with the Ear of the Heart’ (Veritas Publications) is the book. There will be performances by AMEN and Size 2 Shoes at 6pm on Tuesday December 8, John’s Square, for Ni Riain’s event.
