Irish choir joining Barnstaple Ladies for combined charity concert

A joint concert of choirs featuring a well-known Irish choir will be held in Barnstaple on Saturday, September 26.

Barnstaple Ladies Choir is welcoming the Portadown Male Voice Choir from County Armagh in Northern Ireland at the town centre Parish Church of St Peter and Mary Magdalene from 7.30pm.

Barnstaple Ladies Choir visited Northern Ireland last year for their 40th anniversary and sang with Portadown MVC at Banbridge Church, when they raised more than £3,000 for the Water Drops Charity.

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As the Portadown MVC were celebrating their centenary this year, the ladies returned the favour by inviting them to North Devon.

Entry to the concert on Saturday 26 is £5, with a draw and refreshments, with proceeds going to Man Down Charity which supports male mental health.

The finale of the concert will include the Hallelujah Chorus, with all in the audience who know the piece very welcome to join in to give a rousing finish to the evening.

The programme for the concert will be varied to include popular songs, sacred, traditional and musicals.

Portadown MVC is based in County Armagh and membership is drawn from a cross section of the population of counties Armagh, Down and Tyrone.

The choir was formed in Portadown from employees of the local linen mill. It has performed in Belfast, Dublin, Ontario Canada, Georgia USA, and has even performed for the President of Ireland. The choir conductor is Gordon Speers BEM, who has given 50 years of service as a member and conductor.

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