MASS-goers in a number of churches around Clare bopped and clapped in their seats last Sunday to the songs of gospel choirs taking part in the first national Gospel Rising Festival.
Ennis hosted the inaugural festival, which organisers say was a huge success. Fiona Walsh, from Ennis, who is also one of the national organisers for gospel choirs, said they surprised themselves with how well the festival went.
“It went better than we could have hoped for. Events were greatly supported and from the feedback we’re getting, people absolutely loved the gigs and the workshops. For those of us who were participating in it, it was wonderful to be able to listen to other choirs and their styles. It is amazing the various styles which different choirs incorporate in their songs and music from Elvis style to ‘happy day’ stuff were all covered over the weekend,” Fiona said.
The director of the local Ennis gospel Really Truly Joyful Choir. Fiona said the workshops attracted over 200 participants.
“The solo beginners’ gospel singing workshop with Eimear Cregan especially went very well. She is choir director with the Maynooth Gospel Choir and organises the Electric Gospel Choir, with whom Jack L sings. She had people who hadn’t sang gospel music before singing it and crying because they loved it so much,” she said.
Gospel choirs also sang at a number of masses, including in Barefield Church, St Joseph’s in Ennis, Ennis Cathedral and in Clarecastle.
“The congregations at the masses loved the performances and were quite literally bopping and singing and clapping during the songs. People came out from these masses really uplifted,” Fiona commented.
The festival attracted representatives from 15 gospel choirs, with seven full choirs taking part. Jack L also performed and was hugely supportive of the festival.
As it stands, Clare has more gospel choirs than any other county in Ireland, outside of Dublin. “Clare has four gospel choirs – Shannon, Ennis, Scariff and Killaloe. The Killaloe choir was formed only about six weeks ago and Scariff within the past year. We think that’s very significant and shows that gospel music does have an appeal in Clare,” Fiona said.
RTÉ’s Nationwide filmed parts of the Gospel Rising Festival over the weekend and their feature on it will be broadcast on May 26.