Soundtrack for a walk around the town to see its hidden treasures

RENOWNED for unearthing overlooked opera masterpieces and discovering talented young singers and conductors, Wexford Festival Opera has turned its attention this year to Wexford town itself and designed a ‘Hidden Gems’ trail for visitors to enjoy while listening to recommended music.

Pick up a free map at the National Opera House and follow the suggested path to discover seven hidden treasures in Wexford town. For each stop there is a suggested piece of music for you to listen to on the trail. The playlist is available on YouTube.

St Iberius Church: Discover the stained glass window, a tribute to Rev John Elgee (1780), great-grandfather of Oscar Wilde. Oscar’s mother Lady Jane Wilde (née Elgee) was born and raised in Wexford. Suggested music: Donizetti. ‘Una furtiva lagrima from L’elisir d’amore byng’, by Juan Diego Florez who performed a lunchtime recital in St Iberius in 1996.

Greenacres Art Gallery: Explore a treasure trove of contemporary internatonal art. The famous composer Michael W Balfe (Selskar Street) and Dr Tom Walsh, founder of Wexford Festival Opera, lived nearby. The first opera performed in Wexford was ‘ The Rose of Castille’ by Balfe. Suggested music: Balfe. ‘I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls’ from The Bohemian Girl.

Selskar Abbey: Entombed here is Dorcas Catherine McGee, mother of the Wexfordian Thomas D’Arcy McGee, father of the Canadian Federation (1867). Suggested Music: Bellini ‘Casta Diva’ from Norma.

Rowe Street Church: Discover ‘Wexford Mosaic’ a decorative piece of stone art at the entrance of the church from a local seafaring custom in which smooth stones from local beaches were used for decoration. Suggested Music: Mozart ‘Vol che sapete’ from The Marriage of Figaro.

Bride Street Church: Enjoy the Harry Clarke stained-glass window which was commissioned by the family of Lieutenant William O’Keefe from the Faythe, Wexford, who was killed in the battle of Arras, France in 1917, aged 21. Suggested Music: Barber ‘Adagio for Strings’.

Wexford Quayfront: Find the statue of Commodore John Barry, the Wexford man, known as the ‘Father of the American Navy’, who emigrated to Philadelphia and commanded the Colonial Naval Forces in the American Revolution in 1776. Suggested Music: Massenet ‘Meditation’ from Thais.

National Opera House: From the third floor window enjoy the stunning view of Wexford town and harbour. Suggested Music: Puccini ‘Nessun Dorma’ from Turandot

To access the suggested music, type Wexford Festival Opera to find channel on the YouTube app, select playlists and then select Hidden Gems Trail or scan QR code on the provided map on your mobile phone. A FESTIVAL NIGHT of suspense and gothic horror is in store at Rowe Street Church on Tuesday, October 24, when virtuoso organist Ronán Murray will play a live accompaniment to the classic Lon Chaney silent movie The Phantom Of The Opera.

Ronan, pictured right, will use all 2,200 pipes of the church’s Telford Organ to provide a thrilling improvised sound track. The talented organist has given recitals in venues such as St Sulpice, Paris; the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral; St John’s Cathedral in Newfoundland and Lodz Cathedral in Poland, His annual accompaniment of the Murnau classic ‘Nosferatu’ in Trinity College, Dublin, draws capacity audiences each Halloween. Movie buffs will remember the last two screenings in Rowe Street on Culture Night 2015 and 2016, which were an outstanding success.

The concert is being organised by Wexford parish and the proceeds will go towards the annual music costs of the Rowe Street and Bride Street parish choirs. Tickets cost €10 and are available from the Collins- Grant Gallery in Rowe Street, from choir members, and also at the door. Capacity is limited due to sight lines so early booking is advised.

The movie will be screened at 7.30 pm and lasts approximately 90 minutes – so you might like to bring a cushion.