Sunday evening’s concert started once more with our master of ceremonies Mr. Jim Furlong welcoming all to the theatre, and then inviting James Kearon to once again bring life to the words of Michael Fitzgerald's poem, “Asgard II”.
Cruinniú set the tone for the evening with a gorgeous selection of songs. Classical guitarist Michael Stedman indulged the audience with sounds more commonly found on the Iberian Peninsula before Sara Clancy hit the heights, accompanied on harp by Hilda Browne. Avonmore Musical Society took centre stage, with Jennifer Lee’s delicious version of “If I Loved You”, from ‘Carousel’. Members of the cast from their recent production, “9 to 5 The Musical” then performed a number of songs from the show. Denis New again opened the second half of the show, followed by Patrick Bracken’s nautical “Somewhere Beyond The Sea”. Youth very firmly took centre stage with both Caoimhe Ní Chonchúir and Sean Fox performing excellent self-penned numbers with a confidence belying their youthfulness. Eimear Harper, another immensely talented name for the future, performing alongside her father, Fran, opted also for a song she wrote, and the ringing endorsement all three youngsters received spoke volumes. Percussionist Tony Byrne showcased his many talents with a display of instruments and sounds. The Harper Family filled the air with an array of marvellous traditional Irish music, again most of it self-penned, and the evening was rounded off with a superb display from the Breda O’Connor School of Irish Dancing.
AMA chairperson Yvonne Kenny enthused after an immensely successful opening weekend, “we would have loved to have invited more people to the Asgard, such was the interest and the demand for tickets.” She added, “It has been a wonderful weekend for music in Arklow with the opening of the theatre, even though we only showcased a small percentage of the talent that thrives here in the town. I cannot thank enough all those people who have supported us this far, particularly those who sent us cards, flowers, and donations. I also want to thank Declan and Liz from The Harbour Bar, who answered our call and supported us when we first asked the community for a performance space. As someone once said, ‘if you build it, they will come…’ In the weeks ahead, we hope to show as many people around the theatre, and have already taken some bookings. They can find us on Facebook or through our website at arklowtheatre.com.”