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St Brigid’s Cathedral Kildare Celebrates Patronal Festival
In honour of St. Brigid’s Day, a special setting of the Birr Mass was performed in St. Brigid’s cathedral, Kildare as part of the cathedral’s Patronal Festival last Sunday. Written by Birr Choral Society member Peter Whyte to mark 50 years of the Choral Society, the Birr Mass is dedicated to the Society and its director, Michael Hanna, and scored for four–part choir, organ, trumpet and clarinet.
It includes the five traditional movements, with opening and closing organ voluntaries. In keeping with the ecumenical tradition of the Society, the texts used are from the English Language Liturgical Consultation.
Birr Choral Society was founded in 1970 by the Rev. Winston Graham, sometime Minister of Birr Methodist circuit. It welcomes members from all denominations and sings in all their churches. Its 50th anniversary celebrations were delayed by the pandemic.
Peter Whyte was a lecturer in Gurteen College and is organist of Lockeen and Dorrha (Pallas) churches in Birr Group of Parishes. He is studying composition with Jack Oades, former organist of Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin. His music has been performed there, in St. Anne’s Church, Dawson Street Dublin and St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare.
