Ladies in fine tune as they launch new CD

An Cór Gaelach hosted a concert in the Bardic Theatre at the weekend to launch its CD and showcase its music, and were also joined by all-Ireland singing champion Cathal O’Neill and The Swings Gals.

Made up of past pupils from St Joseph’s Convent Grammar School in the village, the choir sings unaccompanied traditional and contemporary Gaelic songs and is led by former headmistress Helen McRory from Dungannon.

Formed in the 1970s, the choir has flourished over the past three decades, competing successfully at local and national level including An tOireachtas, Northern Ireland Choir of the Year and the Scottish Mod.

The choir’s more recent performances include BBC Northern Ireland’s Blas Ceoil , the opening of the Hill of O’Neill in Dungannon and Aniar Aduaidh for RTÉ television.

The choir’s original style varies from 11th Century hymns to blues-tinged arrangements of popular songs learned at school or at the Gaeltacht summer colleges.

The choral arrangements were written exclusively for An Cór Gaelach by Brother Micheál Mac Eoin from Ardboe.

A large selection of the choir’s repertoire of songs were recently recorded onto CD.

Commenting on the launch of the CD, Mrs McRory said: “I’m pleased to see so much interest in Gaelic music. I’m also delighted that the compositions by local people are being made available to a wider public.”

The CD is on sale at Stewart’s Music Shop, Irish Street, Dungannon.