Cór Geal 2022 – The Show Must Go On!
Winter 2022
Christmas would not be Christmas, without the Whitechurch Carol Service. The service will feature Cór Geal, The Sunday Choir, local singers as well at members of the Carol Service Orchestra – a real community inclusive effort!
This year we return to our wonderful live Services at St. Patricks Church, Whitechurch. Our last live Carol Service was in 2019, and it would be an understatement to say, we can’t wait to get back, to perform live, for everyone to enjoy.
Due to Demand, this year Cór Geal will present Three Carol Services at 3pm, 5pm and 7.30pm
Each Year during Covid, we still managed to film and record, the magical music and song that Cór Geal are famous for. The Carol Services were live streamed – and we had audiences from Whitechurch to Watergrasshill, all across Ireland, as well as the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Bahrain, USA, Brazil – and the list goes on!
The Carol Service is directed by our Musical Director, Betty Fitzgerald with the help of Events Manager, Deirdre O’ Mahony and the army of people who set dress the Church – inside and out – and organise all the elements that make this service so memorable.
Cór Geal choir, shows the power of the human spirit, which is in us all, as we produce another beautiful Christmas Carol Service,” said Betty Fitzgerald
This being Cór Geal– who knows what else might pop up in the meantime, so keep an eye out for unanticipated musical pleasures on Facebook and Instagram.
Autumn 2022
Cór Geal returned LIVE on Sunday 23rd October to the Cork Opera House where we presented our Variety Concert – SHOWTIME – Sunday 23rd of October 2022
Showtime was a roaring success, where we sold out the Cork Opera House, yet again, following on from our 2019 sell our concert – Bravo
We presented some hilarious comedy acts, with an inspirational orchestra, and of course our adult mixed choir, with their exquisite harmonies, who performed wonderful songs such as ‘The Holy City’, ‘Adiemus’, ‘Fix You’, and many, many more.
One comment we heard was – “Well, that has shortened winter for us!” – that really is the ultimate compliment
Our World has changed dramatically over the past three years – the Covid19 pandemic, war in Ukraine and economic strife, across Ireland and globally.
Cór Geal has attempted to maintain some level of normality and connectivity for our members and for those whom we perform for. We have done this through developing and presenting virtual performances over the past two years for our Christmas Carol Services, as well as creating material for YouTube and our social media platforms, whilst all the time abiding to the strict Covid19 rules.
With the New Year, there is new optimism. We now have a vaccine to fight the battle with Covid19. Restrictions continue, but with the ability to rehearse, albeit while wearing masks, and completing antigen tests, in advance of attending.
Covid has affected all of us differently, and hopefully through the power of song, and inclusion, Cór Gealwill do all that it can, to help people.
Cór Geal have again commenced live rehearsals on a Wednesdays and preparing for the Cork Opera House 2022 Concert – SHOWTIME
SHOWTIME will be staged at the Cork opera House on the 23rd October 2022 at 5.30pm
Cór Geal choir members are thrilled to get back to rehearsals where a glint of normality is returning to all our lives – while at the same time respecting all/any Government guidelines.
Spring 2022
To re-build everyone’s sense of well-being and normality, we hope to be able to help our choir members, and our very loyal followers and fans, by staging small scale performances over the Spring period. This we hope will bring joy to the audiences, and hopefully raise some well needed funds for organisations whose work is seriously important to the social fabric of our society.
Betty Fitzgerald, our Musical Director will be working and rehearsing through the SHOWTIME programme, while at the same time participating in local events.
Cór Geal 2021 – Nothing’s gonna to stop us now!
In a normal year Cór Gealwould be meeting every Wednesday and preparing for competitions and concerts to take place throughout the year. But 2021 is not a normal year. The presence of Covid-19 has had detrimental consequences for many and has challenged us all very deeply. We could just give up. But Cór Geal has refused to remain silent. To overcome the challenges of Covid-19, the choir has continued to learn, sing, and record new songs from their own homes, and from their hearts.
Spring 2021
To support everyone’s sense of well-being through the pandemic, we all need time to think of others, perhaps to pray, and of course time to laugh and dance. Betty Fitzgerald, our Musical Director has chosen a Spring programme that gives us all of these.
Therefore, we have recorded three songs for your pleasure and for ours:
1. “May the Lord bless you and Keep you” by John Rutter, a beautiful peaceful prayer of blessing.
2. “They all Laughed” By George and Isla Gershwin – a bright up-tempo piece with a message of resilience and determination. This song was originally performed by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
3.“Forever Country” by Marc Huff, a medley of famous country hits based on the song “Take me home Country Roads” that will help us to get “Back on the road again” and look forward to a bright future with hope in our hearts.
Autumn / Winter 2021
In the Autumn we started work on preparing for our next big Cork Opera House Concert – so put the date in the Diary – Sunday 23rd of October 2022 at the earlier time of 5.30pm
The Concert title is – SHOWTIME
In October 2019 we filled the Opera House and over 900 people enjoyed our wonderfully successful and glamorous variety concert. The 2022 Concert we aim to surpass the 2019 Concert!!
In December 2021, Cór Geal performed some Christmas Carols in support of the Church of Ireland, Blarney, Christmas Tree Festival – Community Spirit at its Best
FROM OUR VERY OWN IN-HOUSE PRODUCTION TEAM
A very big thank you to Bríd Ryan (The production team!!), who produced/directed/edited this presentation of Pavane for Silent Night.
48 Cór Geal members recorded themselves at home, sent the recordings Betty Fitzgerald, our musical Director, for approval, who THEN sent them to Bríd, and then the magic, that you see here, was created.
PLEASE DO SHARE – TO ANYONE YOU KNOW
2021 Carol Service:
Christmas would not be Christmas, without the Whitechurch Carol Service. Despite the ongoing restrictions that Covid-19 have placed upon us all, we still managed to film and record, the magical music and song that Cór Geal are famous for.
The Carol Service was streamed on the 19th December 2021 – and we had audiences from Whitechurch to Watergrasshill and all across Ireland, as well as Germany, France, Canada, Bahrain, USA, UK, Brazil – and the list goes on!
The Service was directed by our Musical Director Betty Fitzgerald with the help of Deirdre O’ Mahony & Grainne McSweeney and the army of people who set dress the Church – inside and out – and organised all the elements that make this service so memorable. This year was no different, and all of this was completed within Covid-19 restrictions & protocols.
“Cór Geal choir, shows the power of the human spirit, which is in us all, as we produce another beautiful Christmas Carol Service” said Betty Fitzgerald, our Musical Director
Our charity for 2021 is Cork Mental Health Foundation & Housing Association, for whom we raised €4,250
Our beautiful Carol Service is available for you to enjoy ANYTIME you wish, and as often as you wish.
Simply click on the link – www.corgealchoir.ie or on YouTube – “Whitechurch Carol Service 2021”
This being Cór Geal– who knows what else might pop up as we plan for 2022 – so keep an eye out for unanticipated musical pleasures!
Cór Geal 2020
Cór Geal, in February 2020, celebrated, in dazzling style, its 10th Anniversary at the River Lee Hotel.
Little did we know that Covid-19 was coming down the tracks!
A Pandemic Spring
Once the Pandemic hit and we realised this was going to go on a bit, we introduced Zoom rehearsals and though none of us find them satisfactory, they have enabled us to keep the choir together.
We rehearsed and performed “Be Still My Soul” virtually/online, which gave us great learnings of what we could do, online, in these times. This was our first ever virtual choir piece and our audience loved it.
Summer concert
Deirdre O’Mahony, Denis O’Brien (Tenor) & Susan Manion-O’Brien (Piano) presented an afternoon of song – “Come Meet Again” – at St. Patricks’ Church, Whitechurch, on the 26th July – this was geared towards the elderly, vulnerable and their assistants, in our community
Christmas 2020
Cór Geal, ever innovative, in October 2020 began detailed planning for an online Christmas Carol Service. The normal carol service has been running in Whitechurch for 23 years with an annual attendance in recent years of some 800 people. Cór Geal grew out of it.
In December 2020 we premiered our Virtual Carol Service on through our newly developed website – www.corgealchoir.ie – & on YouTube as well as Facebook and Instagram.
We had over 5,500 views and reached many more people, not only throughout our own community, but all over Cork and Ireland as well as in many countries such as Germany, France, South Africa, United Kingdom and USA, and raised almost €9,000 for the “Samaritans” listening service.
It gave us huge satisfaction and enjoyment, and we hope enjoyment for those who tuned in.
STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY & BE HAPPY
Whatever 2021 brings, we are up for it!
Cór Geal – Celebrating 10 Years
Cór Geal – Celebrating 10 Years Variety Concert
‘BRAVO’, 10th Anniversary Variety Concert, directed by Betty Fitzgerald and produced by Aisling Fitzgerald, took place on Sunday October 20th at the Cork Opera House.
This was announced at a press launch in City Hall by Lord Mayor Cllr John Sheehan.
Cór Geal and the wonderful Cór Geal Orchestra along with guest artist and YouTube sensation Father Ray Kelly of ‘Britain’s got talent’ fame, as well as comic actors Michael Ryan and Sean Kelleher, were among the line up for this Variety Show
The show stopping programme had a full house engrossed for the entire evening. The uplifting programme included favourites such as ‘Nella Fantasia’, ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘Summertime’ as well as contemporary pieces from The Greatest Showman, and popular anthems from Ed Sheeran, Cold Play and many more.
“Nothing activates as many areas of the brain as music. Singing is a stimulating experience which triggers all sorts of positive energy in the mind and body, and social interaction is the best way to shake off the blues. Put it all together, and you get Cór Geal singing at its best.” Betty Fitzgerald Musical Director
A Magical and Rewarding Year, for all involved in Cór Geal
Cór Geal 2019
Cór Geal had a successful tour of Scotland for St Patrick’s weekend. This trip allowed us to share our Irish Heritage with Edinburgh and in Glasgow.
Betty Fitzgerald, our Musical Director, won the overall Barney & District Person of the Year Awards 2019 in December.
In June Cór Geal entered a collaboration with Junk Ensemble in Cork Opera House – a modern dance and music performance.
Cór Geal announced their forthcoming 10th Anniversary Variety Concert ‘BRAVO’, a celebration in song, which was launched in City Hall by Lord Mayor Cllr John Sheehan.
Cór Geal then commenced serious rehearsing for the 10th Anniversary Concert “Bravo” at the Cork Opera House, which was performed on the 20th October, to a “sell-out” audience. Fr Ray Kelly was a guest artist on the evening, and the event was attended by many dignitaries and was a roaring success.
The famous Whitechurch Christmas Carol Service was performed to two full congregations.
What a Magical Year
Cór Geal 2018
Cór Geal headed to Killarney for two nights Choir Workshop, where we stayed at the Killarney Park Hotel. The weekend was dedicated to learning new singing techniques, choreography as well as having some away time with our fellow choir members.
Cór Geal had a very pleasant fun night out at Douglas Inter-Choir Night in February 2018
Cór Geal hosted an exciting concert “A Celtic Celebration” during the St Patricks weekend in St Patricks Church Whitechurch, where we performed to a full house.
Cór Geal performed in Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral in the 2019 Cork International Choral Festival.
2018 was dedicated to developing and rehearsing a light entertainment variety concert, to celebrate our 10th Anniversary – Bravo was chosen for the title of this concert, and it was to take place at the Cork Opera House in 2019
Our no famous Christmas Carol Service, was the perfect round off to a wonderful year
Another wonderful year in the life of Cór Geal
Cór Geal 2017
Cór Geal, in 2017 had another exciting year for with so many varied performances which began with our 3 Sold Out ‘En-Cór’ concerts in Corrin Events Centre.
We partook in the fun, Heritage Day and launch of the Blarney Heritage Map and joined Linda Kenny, Ryan Morgan and Fr Ray Kelly in Cork’s North Cathedral for the ‘Alleluia’ concert of celebration. We joined our friends in Down Syndrome, Cork’s Field of Dreams for a few songs while presenting the group with funds we raised for this project.
December was an exceptionally busy month for Cór Geal. We performed in Cork City Hall for the sold out, Lord Mayor’s Christmas Concert.
Cór Geal, with Linda Kenny and Ryan Morgan, assisted Cloghroe church in their fundraising drive, with a concert ‘A Christmas Cracker’, before our now famous, Whitechurch Community Carol Service, where we performed three, packed out, services
We rounded off the year, on Christmas week, when we sang on the RTE show ‘Today with Maura and Daithí’ for their Christmas Party Special. WHAT A GREAT YEAR!
Cór Geal 2009 – 2016
In the early years between, 2009 and 2016, Cór Geal members kept busy through their involvement in projects such as social activities, the production of variety concerts, fund-raising, and choral competitions.
The initial trip to Vienna in 2009 was a key event in the life of the choir as it created extremely strong bonds between its’ members. These bonds subsequently contributed to the collective sense of strength, positivity, and “togetherness” that exist in the choir.
In 2011, Cór Geal staged its first full-length variety concert The Time of our Life. This concert was such a success that it paved the way for subsequent concerts, Viva La Música in 2013 and Shinein 2015, and led to the reputation that Cór Geal has for producing top class and exciting variety concerts.
During this period, the choir raised substantial money for many charities such as ACT (Aid Cancer Treatment) and St. Vincent de Paul, and for local community projects. Their most unusual and fun fund-raising project was the production of a “Feet and Faces” calendar to raise funds for the Motor Neuron Society in 2010.
Over the years, Cór Geal has had many successes in choral competitions in festivals such as Feis Maitiu, and theCork and Kenmare Choral Festivals, particularly between 2012 and 2016.
Between 2009 and 2016, Cór Geal developed both musically and collectively by seeking out, promoting, and accepting new challenges and opportunities. For example, the choir featured in the University Concert Hall with Red Hurley in 2013 and on TG4 in 2014.
A stunning example of its creativity was the production of its Four Seasonsconcert series during 2015 and 2016, to reflect the importance of community through the seasons.
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