‘LIMERICK, you’re a Lady’ was the vibrant message sung by Unity Gospel Choir Limerick at the launch of Limerick Sings International Choral Festival at The Savoy this Monday 25. Stakeholders showed out for the announcement of performances on Friday June 10 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Saturday 11 at UCH and in Adare for Sunday June 12, Holy Trinity Abbey Church.
At least 560 choristers are booked with 16 choirs arriving from the US, Sweden, Dublin and Cork as well as Limerick’s Ancór, Holy Trinity Abbey Choir, and UCGL.
Metropolitan Mayor Jerry O’Dea linked this event to Limerick’s re-emergence culturally and bid to be European Capital of Culture 2020. Co-presenting with the concert hall’s Sinead Hope, Lorcan Murray of RTE lyric fm underlined our tradition of school and church choirs, operatic and musical societies.
Presented by Campus Life Services at the University with the concert hall, and supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Wild Atlantic Way, Shannon Conference and Sports Bureau, plus RTE, this year’s will be the largest ever. Prestige is assured through notable American choirs and directors Jeffrey Benson and Zoe Franciscus.
This non-competitive festival will secure 1,400 bednights and pull in as large an audience. Choristers will tour King John’s Castle, Bunratty, Wild Atlantic Way attractions and according to Campus Life Services’ Gillian Costello, spend about €59,000 on bednights and another €122,000 in touring.
See www.limericksings.ie and book through the concert hall for all venues on www.uch.ie
