“He who sings, prays twice.” Greystones Folk Group strives to enhance the Liturgy through music and song appropriate to the theme of the Mass. Our music ranges from joyful to contemplative to suit different services from Sunday Mass throughout the Liturgical Year to reconciliation services, funerals and celebrations. Our range includes music from composers such as Liam Lawton, Dan Schutte, David Haas, etc, and we are also proud to have recently introduced the congregation to some beautiful arrangements by our own musician, Austin Prior. We sing every Sunday at 11.00 am Mass from September to June except the first Sunday of the month, when a Mass through Irish is celebrated with its own choir.
People of all ages, men, women and older teens are very welcome to join us. Sopranos, Altos, Tenors, Basses or Musicians such as guitarists, keyboard players, flautists, etc. are always welcome. There are usually about 25 members at any time though attendance can vary due to people’s personal and family commitments. Weekly choir practice is held every Tuesday evening at Kilian House Centre beside The Holy Rosary Church, from 8.30-10.00 pm. Practice sessions are run by our choir director, Josephine Leonard, in an informal and fun manner. Previous experience and ability to read music is not required.
The group has its own strong ethos, one of friendship, care and support to one another in good times and bad. All are welcome to take part in social occasions, whether it’s the weekly cuppa after Mass, outings to the theatre or cinema, ‘significant’ birthday parties or anniversaries, or the odd weekend away at home or abroad – all enhanced by a song or three, of course! A special mass is held each year in one of our homes to celebrate the events and achievements of the group.
Greystones Folk Group has enjoyed many highlights over the years since its foundation nearly 30 years ago. The most special ones include singing with prisoners at Arbour Hill prison in 1999, singing at Mass at our twin town Wurstenberg’s Cathedral in 2006 and celebrating in song at RTE’s televised Mass from Greystones on New Year’s Eve in 2006. Our involvement with our community here led us to release our own CD before Christmas 2005 as a fundraiser for the St. Vincent de Paul. Along with our friends in the local Chernobyl group, we run the ever popular Handbags and Accessories Sale each year, to raise much needed funds to bring a group of Russian children here for a holiday annually.
Many changes have taken place in our parish over the last 30 years – many much loved priests have come and gone, some musical, some not, but mostly all supportive of what drives us to come together each week to enhance the liturgy. We have adapted over the years to these changes with innovation and enthusiasm – old members have moved on and new members have injected fresh ideas. The recent decline in priest numbers in our pastoral area has shifted more responsibility to lay people such as ourselves to ensure continuity and retain comforting familiarity for parishioners. The regular attendance at the 11.00 am mass reminds us that our contribution is welcomed and appreciated. If you are interested in joining us, please come along and chat to our choir director, Jo Leonard, after Mass any Sunday. Jo can also be contacted at 086 605 1294.
086 2365194
