Dawn Chorus - Sing at sunrise on the waterfront?

Over 1,300 singers joined forces for the 2nd Bealtaine Dawn Chorus on Sunday 29 May 2011.
 
As part of its work in encouraging wider national participation in singing, AOIC once again joined forces with Bealtaine and Active Retirement groups all over the country to present the Dawn Chorus. Choirs and active retirement groups from all over the country rehearsed together during May, the culmination of which was the Dawn Chorus which took place at dawn on waterfronts all over the country on Sunday 29 May.
 
Here’s a list of events throughout the country.
 
Cavan
 
The Virginia singers along with the Cavan over 50 Network came together at 8 am at Lough Rammer, at the Lakeside Manor. The Virginia Gospel Choir will be there, the Cavan Cathedral Choir and the Rugby Club Choir for 12 joint songs. They will sing 12 songs together. Local community groups also attended to form a group of 100+ singers. 
 
Cork
 
Kinsale: Kinsale Sing Together group gathered at 7am at the Spanish Gallion on Kinsale Beach and this year for Dawn Chorus they performed Irish Songs they learned at school.
 
Fota: 50 members of the Carrigaline Choral Group came together at 8:30 am at the Walled Gardens, Fota Island House to sing a world premiere of a specially commissioned piece along with a performance of “Flight of the Bumble Bee”.
 
Midleton: Midleton Active Retirement Group organised a Dawn Chorus event at 7am by the Baileg River. The 25 members incorporated elements of story telling, singing and the ancient art of Tai Chi.
 
Carlow
 
250 people joined forces with Carlow Active Retirement and Carlow Chamber Choir at Carlow Town Park at 8am. This was the second Carlow Dawn Chorus, and the groups built their event around the fact that it is the 125th anniversary of transport on the river Barrow.
 
Dublin
 
Terenure: 60 members of Terenure Active Senior IT Society presented an uplifting Dawn Chorus event in Terenure College Lake at 7:30am including poetry readings, floating lanterns across the dawn sky and beautiful singing.
 
Dollymount: St Gabriels Parish/Kincora/Clontarf and St Bridgets Seniors/u3a Sutton joined Dolce & members of Diva Voces choir to form the Dollymount Dawn Chorus. Groups performed at the Causeway Entrance near the Interpretive Centre on Dollymount Strand. The 2010 event was captured on the Irish Times website and can still be seen today through the Bealtaine site under the Dawn Chorus section.
 
Rathcoole: Rathcoole Active Retirement and the Local Church Choir presented a 45-strong choir at 7am in Rathcoole Park beside the water
 
Leopardstown: A private event will take part in Leopardstown Park Hospital
 
Ringsend: Group Name: 35 singers from Ringsend Active Retirement and Riverside choir met at 10:30 on Saturday 28 May for their event at Old River Wall, Pigeon House Road
 
Dublin Airport: Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport came to life with its first Dawn Chorus with 30 singers from Enchiriadis performing at 8am in the departure area
 
Donegal
 
Donegal Regional Active Retirement joined the Donegal Singers and Abbey Singers to make a combined choir of 50 singers to sing at 7am at Lough Eske at Harvey’s Point Hotel.
 
Galway
 
Mervue Active Retirement joined other active retirement groups in the area and five local choirs to sing at 8:30 in Ballylughan looking out toward the Aran Islands
 
Kildare
 
Naas Active Retirement and St David’s Church Choir took part in their second Dawn Chorus this year with 20 people performing on the Ballymore Road, near to the lakes
 
Laois 
 
The 50+ Active Retirement Group joined the Gospel Choir, local church choir and a choir made up of the ICA members and school children at the Rock of Dunamaise at 7am. The groups were joined by tenor Tony Norton, soprano Franzita Whelan, a flautist and violinist.
 
Limerick
 
Newcastle West: Newcastle West Active Retirement once again joined the local church choir in the town of Newcastle West to sing songs about dawn and morning
 
Louth
 
45 singers from Ardee Active Retirement and Ardee church choir joined forces at 8 am to sing along the River Dee at Moorhill Retirement Village
 
Waterford 
 
Cappoquin Active Retirement held a private event at 5am on the banks for a local river.
 
Waterford Healing Arts Trust held a Dawn chorus with a number of local choirs
 
Wexford
 
20 singers from the 55 Club and Castlebeg Choir performed at the Ferrycarraig Hotel at 7am and sang to welcome in the day
 
Wicklow
 
Aughrim: A group of 40 singers made up of members from Aughrim Active Retirement Group and the local church choir sang at 7am at Lake at the Pavillon, Aughrim
 
Avoca: 35 singers from Avoca Active Retirement and the local church choir joined forces in Avoca village at 7am to take part in their first Dawn Chorus.

ABOUT THE ORGANISATIONS
The Association of Irish Choirs (Cumann Náisiúnta na gCór) is the national resource organisation for choral music in Ireland, supporting and promoting excellence in choral music in Ireland. AOIC provides information and advice and presenting a range of programmes and activities designed to respond to the needs of members, the wider choral community and the public.

T: 061 234823
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Active Retirement Ireland is a national umbrella group of over 480 local Active Retirement Associations involving a membership approaching 22,000 older people in a countrywide active retirement movement. The movement’s principal aim is to help retired men and women, usually over the age of 50, to lead a full, happy and healthy retirement by offering organised opportunities for a wide range of activities. The movement is nationwide, non-political and non-sectarian with a membership of men and women drawn from many occupations and all walks of life.

Active Retirement Ireland, Shamrock Chambers, 1-2 Eustace Street, Dublin 2
T: 01 679 2142
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Bealtaine is the nationwide celebration of creativity in older age that takes place every May. The first festival of its type anywhere in the world it is an initiative of Age & Opportunity, the Irish national organisation promoting greater participation by older people. 2009’s festival featured 2,000 events attended by 57,000 people created in partnership with over 400 organisations ranging from libraries and arts organisations to active retirement groups, care settings, and individuals.
Age & Opportunity, Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9.
 T:01 805 7709
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