Kilkenny Gospel Choir head to Praque today to be guests at the opening of the world famous Christmas Markets this weekend.
The Internationally renowned choir will leave Kilkenny today, Thursday, December 1 to begin a three-day concert tour of Prague, which includes the opening of the famous markets. The choir will begin on Friday December 2 with a friendship concert in the world famous St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square. “This is a great honour for us”, Said Fr. Willie Purcell, choir director. “We will renew our connection with St. Nicholas and Jerpoint as we perform in the magnificent church named after him.” On the afternoon of Friday, December 2 the choir will perform at the opening of the Christmas market. “Every year, thousands of people go to the Christmas Markets in Prague, it’s a world social event,” said Mary Doran event organiser and choir member.
On Saturday the choir will sing at the church of St. Salvator and while there will meet with choirs from Prague, Mexico, Switzerland, Netherlands, Poland, Germany, England, Portugal, Russia, Croatia and Italy. “We will be inviting the many choirs we meet to come to Kilkenny for our International Festival in 2012” said Larry Carroll, choir member and Festival Team organiser.
“It is a whirlwind tour” said Mary Kealy PRO of the choir “but we are looking forward to it and are privileged to have been asked to such a world famous event.”
On Sunday morning before the choir returns to Kilkenny they will sing in St. Vitus, Cathedral which has the crypt which contains the tombs of Bohemia’s Holy Roman Emperors.
In the hustle and bustle of the Christmas markets the choir will still find time to visit Charles Bridge, the old Jewish cemetery, the national gallery, and Wenceslas Square.
On their return they will be singing at the blessing of the crib in MacDonagh Centre on December 8 and will be guests at the Mayors Concert on Friday, December 9 in the Watergate in aid of the St. Vincent de Paul. On Saturday December 10 they will fundraise for the Meningitis Society of Ireland in MacDonagh Centre and on Sunday December 11 will perform at a concert in the Long Gallery in Kilkenny Castle; on December 17 in Market Cross Shopping Centre for guide dogs for the blind, on December 18 back in MacDonagh Centre and on December 24 will lead the singing for the remembrance ceremony at the Palliative Care Christmas Tree on the Plaza.