Meeting our new Arts Officer at the Cavan PPN Summer Seminar

 It was our delight to be at the recent Summer Seminar of the Cavan Public Participation Network, which happened to be the first event for our new Arts Officer, Karina Charles. We wish her well in her new role; we have good memories of performing together at past events, and we look forward to working together in the future.

The Public Partcipation Netwrok is a nationwide organisation, in each county, whose remit is to be

"The collective voice for all community and voluntary, environmental and social inclusion organisations in Cavan, its purpose is to improve people’s well-being by involving the community in local decision-making"

As a community choir, we are delighted to be part of such a network in our county.

The website is at https://www.cavanppn.ie/

The latest newsletter is at https://www.cavanppn.ie/post/cavan-community-enews-20-6-25

This seminar was held in the museum in Ballyjamesduff. Cavan Singers were represented by Brid Brady, Carmel Gaffney, and Mags Amond. The room was full of volunteers from community organisations all over the county. Daniel Downey and Finian McNamara gave us an overview of the work of the PPN. Our guest of honour was Arts Officer Karina Charles; we also had interviews with representatives of Tidy Towns and accesibiloity advocacy; music by Cormac McCann; and as a special treat at the end we were entertained to a performance by a very talented young Irish Dance troupe.

Thank you to the organisers Aisling, Daniel, Finian, and our hosts at the museum, for a great evening.

May 13th 2025 - Sacred Songs & Sounds - Cathedral of SS. Patrick & Phelim, Cavan

Our 2025 summer concert, Sacred Songs & Sounds, took place in the Cathedral of SS. Patrick & Phelim, Cavan on May 13th at 8pm. We have to thank a lot of people who made this evening happen - 

> Fr. Kevin Fay and the parish of Urney and Annagelliff for the wonderful venue;

> Cavan Gifts Main St., the Town Hall Theatre staff, and Trocaire for ticket sales;

 > Anglo Celt, RTÉ Lyricfm, and Cavan Public Partcipation Partnership Network for PR;

> Panic Sound's wizard (and elves) for seemingly invisible setting up (and down);

> our patient Front of House and Backstage volunteers Terry, Mary, Seamus, Andrew, Pat, Raymond, and Colman

> our multi-tasking committee for logisitics all term and refreshments on the night;

> the inspiring duo Eileen & Sue who raise us up from start to finish;

> (and most importanly) those who bought our tickets and made donations ... we are *nothing* without the audience that supports us, and listens as we sing.

Trócaire donation link

Trócaire is helping us to deliver our donation from the Sacred Songs & Sounds concert in Cavan Cathedral on May 13th 2025. We thank them for this. Our thanks to all who bought tickets or made donations. The donation page remains open ...

https://platform.payzone.ie/customer/10770/product-list/details/30283 

Bealtaine Tea Party

Image credit: Pauline McDonald Smith

We had a lovely afternoon in the Johnston Central Library on Tuesday May 6th. Libraries across the country invited people to celebtrate Bealtaine together at an indoor picnic with music and singing.

We sang four sings - Look at the World, The Pilgrim, Can't Help Falling in Love with You, and All The Jazz. It was lovely to have some former members attending, and to see folk joining in. We also enjoyed singing along with Teresa McKiernan and the Friends of Parkinson's Singers, some of whom are former members of Cavan Singers. Thanks to Pauline McDonald-Smith and her colleagues at the library for organising the Bealtaine picnic and inviting us to be part of it it all.

Image credit: Mags Amond

Where We Belong - podcast launch

We were delighted to attend the launch of the Heritage Council podcast series Where We Belong' yesterday in Breffni Park Gallery. We were represented by committee members Fidelma Sheridan & Brid Brady, and basses Dermot McMonagle & Jan van Haster who took part with tenor Mags Amond in our podcast recording. Dermot & Jan are pictured here at the event with producers Savina Donohue & Alan Bradley 

Bealtaine Party Tuesday May 6th

We are going to a party! The Bealtaine Tea Party is in library spaces all over the country next Tuesday May 6th. we will sing some songs and listen to some others, have a cuppa and a chat. Details are in Johnston Central Library

Sacred Songs and Sounds at the Cathedral in Cavan

We are preparing for our end of season concert. This year we are inviting you to join us in the Cathedral of SS. Patrick & Felim in Cavan town, at 8pm on Tuesday May 13th. As well as singing our own repertoire with our Musical Director Eileen Tackney and our choir soloists, we will present as our guest musicians the organist Simon Harden, and the organ scholars from St Patrick's College, Cavan.

Our program of song for 2025 includes classical, pastoral, and traditional spiritual pieces, from the dreaming of Rutter, Larson, and Fauré to the drama of Orff, Mozart, Handel, Verdi, and more. 

Tickets can be purchased in person from Cavan Gifts on Main St., or online via the Town Hall Arts Centre website at https://townhallartscentre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173663990 

As with all our concerts, all proceeds [after costs] are donated to charity.