Aoide’s fascination

By Rose Rushe

THE Lisnagry based opera singer and music school director, Owen Gilhooly. is gathering vocal chords and harmonies for a new choir, Aoide (pronounced Ay-oh-dee). This is an adult corps intended for “all voices and abilities”.
Gilhooly established his Mid-West Vocal Academy in the area and its wide catchment has introduced him to the community and aspirant singers. Tuesday night is rehearsal time at Kilmurry Arts and Heritage Centre in Castletroy, from 7.30pm to about 9pm and there’s a weekly entrance of €5.
He is not on his own in this, with an accomplished team of soprano Helen Houlihan as assistant musical director, Irina Dernova on piano and soprano Kerry Jane Hurley operating as conductor in training.
Aoide is developing a repertoire and has a collective ear to public performances in the future.
There’s still time celebrate National Heritage Week and hear Gilooly perform. Come along to an ‘evening of music and song’ on the slate for Killmurry Church in Castletroy this Friday 29 at 8pm. The concert will feature the baritone and pianist Stuart O’Sullivan with new and emerging young singers and musicians.
This occasion marks the completion of phase one of repairs to the tower and steeple of this historic church, located behind The Hurler’s Bar.