More than 800 tickets purchased for annual Samaritans concert

One of the most popular festive fundraisers in the Midlands each year, the Samaritans Annual Christmas Concert, will take place in St Peter and Paul's Church in Athlone at 8pm this Thursday (December 11).

This is the second successive year that the concert is being held on the western bank of the Shannon following the closure of its previous longstanding home, the Franciscan Friary Church.

The move from the Friary, where the concert routinely attracted a sell-out crowd of around 500, has seen the event's capacity rise substantially.

Organiser Deirdre Collins, of the Athlone and Midlands Samaritans said the concert brought a crowd of approximately 900 to St Peter and Paul's Church last year and this year ticket sales had been very strong once again.

"Ticket sales are going very well. So far we have sold over 800 tickets, so we're getting close to capacity again this year," Deirdre said on Friday last.

"We have had great support from the community and also from the businesses in town who support the programme and help the overall income of the concert."

This will be the 35th Annual Gala Samaritans Christmas Concert. The Army Band of the 2nd Bridage will be performing again this year, conducted by Captain William Chester.

The band will be accompanied by Tenor Paul Linehan, who was a great hit at last year’s concert and will return this year to perform some of his popular operatic classic renditions such as Nessun Dorma, O Sole Mio and other musical favourites.

Further musical delights will be provided by the award-winning Athlone A Cappella Choir and the ever-popular Athlone Pipe Band, while Joe McCarrick will be the compere for the evening.

"It will be a very Christmassy programme, which is appropriate for this time of year. People love to sing along with the Christmas numbers and get into the spirit of Christmas," said Deirdre Collins.

"The Athlone Pipe Band are very popular and they always create a great stir on the night as they come up the aisle, which is lovely."

The event is the main annual fundraiser for the Athlone and Midlands Samaritans, but Deirdre added that it's also about highlighting the support it provides all year round, including over the whole Christmas period.

"On the night we try to emphasise that the Samaritans freecall number, 116 123, is available for people 24/7, including on Christmas Day," she said.