IRISH CONCERT

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1942, Page 3

IRISH CONCERT

Outstanding Success A fitting conclusion to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations was the Irish National Concert last evening, the Town Hall being crowded with one of the largest audiences it has held tor years past. Hearty applause, which greeted every item, testified to the excellence ot the programme. The varied contributions of the Convent and Marist Brothers’ pupils, whether in instrumental, choral or verse speaking, were given due recognition and these reflected great credit on the teachers in the preparation put into the items of the adult vocalists, who each were in top form and gave of their very best, mention must be made of the visiting artists, Mrs W. Cogswell and Mr Dave McGill. Mrs Cogswell made a most welcome return to a Greymouth platform and showed that her rich mezzo-contralto voice has lost nothing of the beauty which sq charmed her hearers when she was a resident here. Mr McGm, the popular tenor, also made a welcome reappearance, and all. his songs captivated his audience to the utmost. Mr Jim Duffy, another favourite singer, was given a vociferous hearing, his outstanding number being “It’s a Great Day for the Irish , in which the school children joined in te- chorus. A special feature was an appropriate verse introduced -into the song as a tribute to Very Rev. Father J. Long in recognition of the high office of Vicar-General recently bestowed on him. Mrs L. Dumbleton and Mr Tom Hatch sang appro-' priate Irish numbers and each was given due recognition for their very fine performance. A sextette of young ladies sang two part-songs, “Derry Vale” and “Kerry Dance” and the tunefulness of their rendition of these fine old Irish melodies was not lost on a most appreciative audience. Miss Patsy Kiely, a very promising young elocutionist, gave of her best and 'her humorous encore number was certainly a hit. The little dancers, Misses Peggy Guy and Shirley Cleghorn won the applause of all and certainly displayed careful tuition in their work. One of the last items, but certainly not the least, was a display by the Marist boy’s Gymnastic Club. They were very clever in their spectacular movements, and deserved great credit for their exhibition. Prior to the final number, Very Rev. Father J. Long, V.G., thanked the audience for their attendance and the organisers and those taking part in the concert. He specially mentioned the visiting artists, Mrs Cogswell and Mr McGill for coming and giving their services. He also thanked the local artists and also those who assisted to make the concert such a great success. The concert concluded with the singing of “Hail Glorious Saint Patrick.”

Mr J. E. A. McKeefry was stage manager. The programme was as follows: — Overture, Convent Orchestra; “God Defend New Zealand,” the audience joining in the singing of New Zealand’s National Anthem; Verse Speaking, “Beautiful Ireland” and “Ireland One Nation”, Marist Brothers’ Boy’s Choir; Vocal Solo, “Maire My Girl”, Mr D. McGill; Two-part Song, “In Derry Vale” Misses Tennent, Wotton, Willis, Walker, Fraher and Allen; Song and Dance, “Meet The Sun Halfway,” Miss Peggy Guy; Vocal Solo, “Last Rose of Summer”, Mrs L. Dumbleton; Vocal Solo, “Rich and Rare”, Mr J. Duffy; Recitation, “The Parting Rosary”, Miss Patsy Kiely; Vocal Solo, “Fairy Tales of Ireland”, Mrs W. Cogswell; “Silent O Moyle,’’ St. Mary’s Choir, “O Men From the Fields,” St. Patrick’s Choir and “Irish Te Deum,” Combined Choirs; Overture, “Erin Og”, Convent Orchestra”; “The Valley Lay Smiling” and “The Irish Brigade", Marist Brothers’ Boy’s Choir; Verse Speaking, “Sing Me a Song of Ireland,” Convent Choir; Vocal Solo, “End of a Cobblestone Road”, Mrs W. Cogswell; Two-part Song, “Kerry Dance”, Misses Tennent, Wootton, Willis, Walker, Fraher and Allen; Vocal Solo, "Believe Me”, Mr D. McGill; Dance, Irish Jig, Miss Shirley Cleghorn; Vocal Solo, “Eileen Alannah”, Mr T. Hatch; Marist Brothers’ Boy’s Gymnastic Squad, Pyramids, Flips and Wingless Flying; “Hail Glorious St. Patrick”, Combined Schools. The accompanists were: Miss Zita Munson, F.T.C.L., Miss M. Carroll, A.T.C.L., Miss M. Cawley, Miss M. Keating and' Mr> Jas. Patterson, L.R.A.M.