Maynooth College annual Christmas carol service to go ahead on Wednesday

13 Dec 2021

“Join us online and enjoy our talented choirs for this beautiful and moving celebration of the eternal message of Christmas” – Rev Prof Michael Mullaney

At 7.30pm this Wednesday, 15 December, three Maynooth College and University choirs will gather in the historic College Chapel of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, for the annual Christmas carol service: the College Chapel Choir, directed by Dr John O’Keeffe; the Schola Gregoriana, led by Dr Darina McCarthy; and, Maynooth University Chamber Choir, under the direction of Dr Michael Dawson.  This renowned and uplifting choral celebration of the Christmas season has been a highlight of the Advent calendar in Ireland since 1970.                                                                                

Following public health guidance, a much-reduced congregation will attend this year’s carol service, which will also be livestreamed on the College website: www.maynoothcollege.ie.  The service will be led by the President of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Rev Professor Michael Mullaney who, when announcing this year’s event, said, “I am truly delighted that this year’s Christmas carol service can go ahead with a small in-person audience.  I extend an invitation to everyone who can to join us online and enjoy hymns sung by our three talented choirs for this beautiful and moving celebration of the eternal message of Christmas.”  

This year’s carol service will be broadcast by Kairos as well as on the worldwide platform of www.shalomtv.tv.  Last year, due to coronavirus restrictions, the carol service did not have a live audience in the College Chapel, but was watched by 17,000 people online.

ENDS

For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long +353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm +353 (0) 87 310 4444.