Momentous weekend in Ennis

Robert Rowe starts as he means to continue as Chairman with instructions for Ennis

I had always imagined de Regge as a sort of tortured musical genius with hair like Franz Liszt and a slovenly personal appearance like Beethoven. I thought of him working away in dire exile in a cold organ loft in St Flannans Cathedral immune and oblivious to his surroundings, intent only on his music, pausing only to remember with fondness the rolling hills of his native Belguim. I was therefore surprised to meet him face to face (photographically at least) and to find that he was a very solid citizen with a twinkle in his eye and a great impression of good humour and dynamism: to find that he was the father of at least three delightful daughters who have grown into lovely ladies and who remember him still with great love and sadness at his tragic death. Now instead of De Regge the Composer I think of him as Ernest.

Annette and Earnest and Robert

All this was revealed to me on our trip to Ennis last week where we went to take part in an historical and moving commemoration of Ernest de Regge in St Flannan's Cathedral. We performed his Mass in honour of Blessed Oliver Plunkett which was last performed at an Outside broadcast by RTE in 1947. This was a very rare event for Radio in that era and shows how well regarded he was at the time. It was a marvellous to be part of the group which reintroduced Ernest's music to his adopted home town. We were all pleased with the response and the size of the audience and were pleased to get it done.

St Flannans Cathedral

Donagh and Eanna warm up. This was just after Eanna played

Purcell's Trumpet Voluntary from memory

Donagh had put so much effort and skill and music and learning into editing the manuscript of the Mass ( and it really was a manscript with scribbles and ambiguities and all) and turned it into a coherent score. I hope he was pleased with the result. I think we were anyway. It is lovely music to sing and we all really enjoyed it.

Anxious moments before recording begins. Donagh calms Barry

Practice makes perfect we hope

Of course the amount of work required was quite a lot but we have proved in the past that all we need is a challenge. We had one and we rose to the occasion.. I know this sounds very bumptious but we are proud to have taken part in what was, I believe, a significant musical event. After the Mass we went to An Danlann where we took part in a concert of Ernest's music with our old friend Michael Hennessy, the Soprano Mary O Brien and the most beautifull School Choir in the World. I have never seen so many stunning young women all gathered under the baton of Carmel and so pleasant and polite and perfectly behaved. There is nothing to worry about for the future if these girls are typical of modern youth.

The Colaiste Choir wait patiently

Apart from the drive from 'Scorthy to Ennis on Friday evening which was like the Road to Hell and Back we were well looked after in the Old Ground Hotel. In fact the whole weekend was an other triumph of organisational brilliance by Annette as her swan song as Secretary. It was like being looked after by a besotted mother hen who anticipated all our wants and made sure we didnt have to ask. Congrats Annette on a terrific job.

Trisha, Bernie, Brian Rob, Annette and Larry



Socially we excelled ourselves as usual. The less said about the Friday night the better. Suffice it to say that we were all on parade at Danlann on Saturday at 2 .oopm ready to go. We had a long day as we were recording carols and motets with the School Choir. On to the Cathedral where we practiced again and sang at the very impressive Mass in lovely acoustic surroundings. Without a break we belted back to Danlann to sing in the Commemorative Concert for Earnest and the other poor folk who died in the Carmody Hotel Disaster 50 years ago. We were, it has to be admitted, beginning to feel the pace but after a slightly wobbly start we got going and responded to the warm welcoming athmosphere. During the Concert, Earnest's daughter, Ghislaine, who lives in Texas and had flown specially to arrive that day to attend the Concert, shared some of her memories of her father and Ennis of 50 years ago. A real family moment which we felt priveledged to be part of.



Dinner with the Regge sisters

After the mulled wine and delicious mince pies reception in the School we went for supper to the Town Hall joined again by Earnest's daughters. Then on again to the Party Room where tired and all as we said we were we sang on again for an other hour before starting the party pieces. Garry was in fine form on the Trumpet and our chief Groupie Jimmy produced his guitar to great effect. I looked at my watch and it was midnight. Time for bed. A few more songs and I looked at my watch again and it was 3.ooam. Time for bed again but not before our new chum Paddy Demery gave us a stirring version of Linden Lea.

My charming dinner companions Vanessa Breda and Eileen

Well done everyone.

Great w