The Kerryman (North Kerry)

St Patrick’s Day high for Listowel

RTÉ to broadcast live on TV and radio for big day

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RTÉ staff were so taken with Listowel on a recent visit they decided to move their studio to the town to broadcast the 11am St Patrick’s Day Mass live – on both radio and TV.

Producers of the station’s religious output were down to talk with the Listowel Folk Group about their forthcomin­g trip to the Donnybrook studio, where they were to perform the music for the TV and radio Mass.

“But they changed their mind after a visit to meet us in Listowel. The director said he got such a lovely feeling in Listowel that they felt the only thing for it was to come down to Listowel to broadcast live,” Folk Group musical director Mary Moylan told The Kerryman.

Along with the RITH 2018 celebratio­ns, it’s making for one of the most exciting St Patrick’s Day events in years for the North Kerry town.

Excitement is certainly at an all-time high for the Folk Group ahead of what will be their first ever appearance on television. “Combined with RITH the excitement is phenomenal in Listowel and we’re thrilled to be performing live now on radio and TV for the RTÉ broadcast,” said Mary.

“We’re especially thrilled as half the music will be from Garry MacMahon’s Mass,” Mary explained.

Indeed, it was a performanc­e of the Garry MacMahon Aifreann at the Fleadh Cheoil Mass in Ennis last year that sparked the whole developmen­t.

“We performed the Mass in its entirety on that occasion and that was broadcast on RTÉ Radio One in a fantastic experience for the group; although a challengin­g one as the Mass is all in Irish! And it was from that RTÉ explored the idea of the St Patrick’s Mass with us.”

Another hugely exciting March 17 developmen­t for Listowel will be the presence of Mícheál Ó Muircheart­aigh on the main stage; the legend down as part of the big RITH festivitie­s.

This is the national event that will bring Se achtain na Gaeilge to a close and for which Listowel was selected as the destinatio­n. The RITH refers to the 1,500km run currently underway as Gaeilgeoir runners and friends carry a special message from Uachtarán Michael D Higgins.

The message will be read by a pupil of Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail from the main stage at the close of the big parade at 2pm. The parade itself sets off from the town park at 12.50pm with Owen MacMahon as MC for the event. Mícheál will take to the stage from 2pm as well - to a huge Listowel welcome!

 ??  ?? The Listowel Folk Group in rehearsals at St Mary’s Church ahead of their upcoming St Patrick’s Day performanc­e at Mass in Listowel - which will be broadcast live on RTÉ TV and RTÉ Radio One.
The Listowel Folk Group in rehearsals at St Mary’s Church ahead of their upcoming St Patrick’s Day performanc­e at Mass in Listowel - which will be broadcast live on RTÉ TV and RTÉ Radio One.
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