Following a three-year break due to Covid, the Rice College Christmas Concert returns to glór next Monday, writes River McGann.

The concert will feature music students from the school’s Transition Year and upwards, with traditional music, Irish dancing, and solos from the sixth years.

Joan Hanrahan, concert organiser and Rice College music teacher said,

“The last time we held this Christmas Concert was three years ago, during Christmas 2019. Little did we think that we wouldn’t be back in glór for three full years!

“It has been a huge loss to the school and the students, including the students of music, because the school concert is a wonderful opportunity for our students to perform.

“Not everybody is comfortable with standing up in front of an audience, but it’s a skill we can improve.

“We feel it’s a very important part of the life of Rice College, performing for others and creating bonds with people in doing so.

“Not performing for three years has had a huge impact on students, as they have been denied the opportunity to perform in public, so we are really looking forward to going back to glór.”

Funds raised from the performance go back into the school’s music programme, to buy instruments and sound equipment.

Ms Hanrahan said the motivation for the concert is it gives the students joy, and it’s great for the teachers to see the improvement in the students, adding it is less about raising money, than promoting joy and happiness.

“It’s a night to be enjoyed by the students, and the students’ parents, but most of all, the general public, and being able to see the young talents of the musicians of county Clare.

“This concert will be the Renaissance of the Christmas Concert, back better than ever after three years of not being able to perform,” she said.

“The theme for this concert is of course Christmas as in Rice College, we believe this is the most magical time to have a concert, and it’s a time where we can come together, create friendships and play music together.”

“It has been a great loss to students and staff at Rice College in its three-year absence, and seeing it back will put the performers and audience in the Christmas spirit!

The show is on Monday, December 19, at 7.30pm. Tickets for what promises to be a brilliant night of music, song and dance can be bought online at glor.ie.