Summer Music Festival outshines the fine weather

LOCAL and visiting choirs proved an even greater attraction than the fine weather as capacity audiences attended the first Dingle Summer Music Festival, which was held last weekend.

The festival was conceived by Hungaro-Dingleman Gabor Péli and organised with help from members of the Dingle New Music Choir and Orchestra, which Gabor formed in 2014.

“I am very pleased, we had a good turnout for all the events” said Gabor, mentioning highlights such as Opus 86 and Cór na Déise as well as a lecture by Criostóír Ó Loinsigh on the refined art of achieving correct pronunciation while singing in the Irish language.

Such was the positive feedback from the weekend that Gabor is planning to run the festival again next year, bringing choirs and orchestras from further a field to Dingle.

Gabor’s Dingle New Music Choir and Orchestra received a standing ovation after their concert on the Friday night of the festival. Now that the choir is on a summer break, Gabor is extending the reach of choral music further to include school children. He has been selected as tutor for the youth choral project in West Kerry, commencing this Friday.

An initiative of Creative Ireland and co-ordinated by the Arts Office in Kerry County Council, the project will provide school children, between the ages of eight and 18, with free training in choral singing. The workshops will take place in Bunscoil an Clochar and there is no charge to attend. For further details contact Gabor on 086 2204598.

Photos by Declan Malone Trish Williams, Bernie de Brún, Gabor Péli, Marcas Mac Domhnaill, Pat de Brún and Joan Maguire at the launch of the Dingle Summer Music Festival in An Díseart on Saturday. RIGHT: Aoileann Nic Ghearailt and Bob Ó Cathaill, who played a tune and recited...

Cór na Déise performing in the chapel of An Díseart during the Dingle Summer Music Festival on Saturday.