By ROBERT LINNEHAN
Spend a few nights at the Blarney Castle? Check. Play a concert at St. Patrick’s Cathedral? Check. Perform at the World Irish Dancing Championships? Check.
The only way the Girls Travelling Choir of Cherokee could have had a better trip to Ireland is if they captured a leprechaun and found its pot of gold. The famous choir performed in several historic venues and wrapped up the trip to the Emerald Isle last week.
The 30-member choir consists of singers at the high school between the ages of 14 and 18, Choir Director Nicole Snodgrass reported. This was the sixth international tour for the all-audition group, she said. Snodgrass arranges and books the tours herself, which is fairly uncommon with a high school choir director as it can take so much time to organize.
Snodgrass formed the choir at Cherokee 11 years ago. Prior to the trip, the choir engaged in several fund-raising events throughout Evesham Township to raise money for the tour.
“This past one was our sixth tour. We’ve been to Boston, New York City, San Francisco, England, Charleston, and Ireland,” she said. “I’m this kind of person who is driven by inspiration. I just get these fantastical notions in my head and let them play out.“
The choir embarked on the trip on Friday, April 15, Snodgrass said. The first stop on the tour was Galway, where the choir stayed for two nights and performed in the Galway Cathedral. The church is one of the best places to sing in the country, Snodgrass said, because it was built to accommodate religious ceremonies and has fantastic acoustics.
At each stop the choir chose 30 to 40 songs from its extensive catalogue to perform for its audiences. At the cathedrals, Snodgrass said the choir kept the songs traditional and sacred, but at the other stops the group performed pieces from Enya, U2, and the famous “Danny Boy.”
The next stop on the trip was to Cork and the historic Blarney Castle. After kissing the Blarney Stone, the choir against performed for tourists and visitors at the castle.
“They loved the choir. When you’re in a public place like Blarney Castle, people are there to visit the castle but so many just stopped and listened to us,” Snodgrass said. “You have hundreds of people in and out, but they just stopped and paused for the beauty of the singing and our surroundings.”
From there the choir traveled to Dublin and performed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Built in 1191, the historic cathedral is the largest Catholic church in Dublin and unbelievably gorgeous, Snodgrass said. The high ceilings of the church have been allowing choirs to sing in a perfect acoustical setting for centuries, she said.
The choir also performed in the World Irish Dancing Championships. Snodgrass said a previous member of the choir, Kerri Smith, actually was competing at the championship so it was great for the choir to cheer her on and see her performance.
After a few other stops, the choir finished off their trip by staying in a castle for two nights at County Caven. Morgan McGoey, a member of the choir, said singing at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the castle at County Caven were the highlights of the trip.
“Stayed at a castle the past two nights and sang for the people staying there. We sang at the Blarney Castle also, it was just a great experience,” McGoey said.
Each night the choir performed for other visitors who were staying in the historic structure. But unfortunately, the week came to a close and the choir returned to the state on Saturday, April 23.
All involved had a fantastic time, Snodgrass said.
“It’s one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever seen. It redefines green for you, the expansive landscape and beauty of the countryside,” Snodgrass said. “The people, the kindness, and the genuine love and respect they have for each other was just great.”
