Diocesan News
Prestigious organist treats audience - Macartan 1500
Westminister Abbey?s prestigious organ scholar, Ian Keatley, charmed audiences in both Monaghan and Clogher?s, St Macartan?s Cathedrals as well as enthralled participants at an organ workshop at Enniskillen?s St Michael?s Parish Church and St Macartin?s Cathedral last week.
Ian Keatley?s visit took place as part of a project to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of St Macartan, Patron Saint of Clogher Diocese, and is part-financed by Church of Ireland Priorities Fund and the European Union through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the Northern Ireland Rural Development Council (RDC).
Monaghan?s spectacular St Macartan?s Roman Catholic Cathedral was the first venue to have the pleasure of welcoming Ian Keatley. The Most Revd Joseph Duffy, Roman Catholic Bishop of Clogher opened the event and acknowledged the common history shared between the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Church in Clogher Diocese. Bishop Duffy also mentioned the significant timing of this event in relation to the anniversary of the Cathedral?s inauguration. Ian Keatley did not disappoint with his vibrant renditions of pieces by Bach, Dupré, Gabrieli and Mendelsohn performed on the Cathedral?s magnificent three manual Telford Organ, which was recently rebuilt by organ builders Kenneth Jones and Associates. It was clear to see how appreciative the audience was of the skill and talent of Mr Keatley.
Clarinettist, Debbie Wilcock, also featured as part of the programme and was very well received. Debbie performed the Adagio movement of Mozart?s Clarinet Concerto, and was accompanied by pianist Glenn Moore.
Bishop Michael Jackson closed the evening at Monaghan?s St Macartan?s Cathedral and subsequently presented the opening the following night at the second venue which was St Macartan?s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Clogher. Clogher Cathedral lended itself to pieces by composers such as Buxtehude, Stroger, Bach and Stanford, and were performed on the two manual Connacher Organ and was also most enjoyed by the audience. Incidentally, the Clogher Organ is 100 years old during 2006. Bishop Duffy concluded the evening by thanking everyone for their involvement.
As well as the evening events Ian Keatley also instructed an enjoyable workshop at Enniskillen?s St Michael?s Roman Catholic Parish Church and St Macartin?s Anglican Cathedral. The twenty participants, some of whom had traveled a significant distance, enjoyed an interactive session which included singing technique, choral training, and organ playing and accompaniment skills.
One of the participants commented ?I am so pleased to have been one of the privileged people to have taken part in this workshop. Ian was so vibrant and enthusiastic and covered so much more than I expected. I have been an organist for many years and I still learned so much from the workshop.?
The organisers of this event would like to thank all those who helped with this event, particularly the various venues which were kindly made available for use on this occasion.
For further information contact:
Aileen Donnelly (Communications Officer)
Tel: +44 (0)28 867 66980
Email: Aileen Donnelly