The Curragh Male Voice Choir - The early years 1958 - 1962

[michaelkelly]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for getting back . And I sure that there are lots more Choir-related stories to be added . Hope that you are keeping well .

Fond regards,

Michael

[kellquinn]

Hi Mick (18. And all.
All is forgiven, "just one more thing", as Columbo would say. As my father had given such continuous service to the choir since 1940 up until the mid 2000s when he fell ill, he was awarded the Bene Merente Medal from the Pope for this service. unfortunately the news arrived on the day of his funeral. I can only recall one other such recipient from the Curragh and that was to the late Peter Hickey for his service as Sacristan.
Regards JoeyK 0455

[kellquinn]

Miss O Callaghan.
A gentle little lady and who was the main Organist for the Choir from the early 60s until her retirement in the 80s, she was the image of Minnie from the Riordans. Other well known organists were Dennis Mellerick,
B Mus, Joe Harrington, and Georgie Prendergast. The Hallejuiah Chorus by Handel and "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves," by Nabucco were my two favourites and were performed by The Curragh Camp Choir in a concert that I frequented in the Curragh Gym.in the late 60s. PS. I was a member of the choir for a short while, and was expelled for smoking up the back during rehersals. I could have been another Michael Bubbles had I had my voice fully trained, instead of the cackling crow of a voice that now emits from these auld tonsils.
regards.
JKelly

[livenowpraylater]

Kellquinn, you mentioned Peter Hickey,
was he from calverstown by any chance.

Ned.

[michaelkelly]

Hi Andy,

How are you? .And as you correctly say, there are are lots more subscribers out there who can contribute to the article on the Choir in one way or another . Hope that you are keeping well .

Fond regards,

Michael

[michaelkelly]

Hi Joey, 04 58,

Nice to hear from you again . That was a great honour which your late Father received for his Service's to the Choir, and it must have been especially poignant for you all that he received it on the day of his Funeral. It was well merited and deserved . And it was good that the late Peter Hickey also received it . So that's a very notable event for the Curragh Community generally . I remember that someone mentioned to peter that he was late ringing the Church bell for the Angelus one evening, and he replied:- " Listen, I call people to Pray, and not to tell them the time" ! he was a great character, and I understand that when he finished his Recruit training in McDonagh, he was sent to the Church to help out the Sacristan for a week or two . But he ended up being there for about 40 years, both as a serving soldier and afterwards as a Civilian . I think that the late John Mullery took over from him , but he didn't stay in the job long, and Mr. McCormack who lived in Pearse (Arthur's Father) succeeded him . And I remember the late Miss O'Callaghan from Brownstown very well . She was as you rightly say, a very gentle and pleasant lady , and the image of Minnie Brennan from "The Riordan's" And we all remember the late Denis Mellerick who would always lift-the-roof off the Church while playing the Organ on St. Patrick's Day .And I am sorry to hear that your Musical career came to an abrupt end, owing to you having a smoke during Choir Practice . I would say that there were a lot more in the same boat, but they weren't caught-out . And as your singing career came to such an abrupt end, could it be now said :- "That you have a great Musical future behind you" .

Take care Joey

Fond regards,

Mick 18

[andybrennan]

Michael / Joey,

Playing a stormer boys re the choir, keep it coming.

Andy

[kellquinn]

Hi all
My Father was looking over the top of the choir loft during Choir practice one evening, when he saw Peter Hickey sweeping out one of the confessional boxes, Hi Peter! he shouts you left a few sins behind you, a sure says Peter they were only the venial ones. Another snippet, Peter had a glass eye, and one day Larry and Hugh Ryan were playing marbles when Peter pops out his eye and began playing marbles with the lads.
For Ned. Yes Peter was from Calverstown.
Regards to all JKelly

[kellquinn]

The Choir on Christmas Eve.
It was always the tradition on Christmas Eve after the Mass, for each of the younger members of the Choir and the Altar Servers, to get a big bag of sweets from the Head Chaplin of the day, of course the box of sweets were kept in the Sacristy where us Altar Boys had first pick, I often wondered what poor chorister was left short?. And we were the little angels!
Jkelly

[michaelkelly]

Hi Joey, I always wondered why the sweets were in short-supply when they were brought up to the Choir Gallery after Midnight Mass . I hope that you confessed all to Peter Hickey afterwards .
Mick 18

[andybrennan]

Mick / Joey bet they were not Gobstoppers

Andy

[andybrennan]

Ah lads the good old days when Midnight Mass was at Midnight.

Andy

[donal douglas]

Jim Clohessy will be 99 in March of next year. That is according to Diarmuid (Clox), his son, whom I saw recently in London for a regular racing boys' lunch. After the requisite amount of refreshment Clox can still sing the place down. And very good he is. Needless to say,one of his favourites is The Curragh of Kildare.

[Michael Kelly]

Hello Donal, How are you ? Hope that both you and all yours have been keeping well. All going good here . And thats great that Jim Clohessy will attain the age of 99 in March of next year .he see him out-and-about often . I was speaking with Don McGrath on Friday last, and he told me that he met with you a while ago . We had a great chat about the Curragh in the old days . And I have sent a copy of our Choir Picture and my article to Maura Butler recently. And I understand that she is keeping well . Take care Donal and I wish both you and all yours a very Happy Christmas and all the best for the coming year .
Fond regards, Michael

[johnd]

Hello Donal,

Good to hear from you after all these years and to know that Diarmuid Clohessy and his father are in good form. Diarmuid introduced me to bluesman Jimmy Reed almost 50 years ago and I still enjoy listening to Jimmy occasionally.

Regards,

Johnd