Ten years of song

Ten years ago Kevin Kelly, the young organist in Gardiner Street church, suggested to Fr Edmond Grace that they set up a Gospel Choir. It was a new notion, to have a choir at the altar, and with music that would set feet tapping. Edmond and Kevin persuaded the parish to have a special Gospel Choir Mass at 7.30 p.m. on Sundays. From the start everything seemed to fall into place, and there is now a two-year waiting list to join the 40 singers and eight-piece band that make up the Gospel Choir. On its tenth birthday the parish priest, Donal Neary, used his homily to thank the choir for the life it has brought to the church over the years.