THE quest to fund Carlow cathedral’s fabulous new organ is well underway.
On Sunday 16 October, a special concert took place in the cathedral with composer and musician Ronan McDonagh and his group Fuaimlaoi.
The event was part of the ongoing efforts to fund the cathedral organ restoration project.
Fuaimlaoi was originally set up by Ronan is 2006 to promote and develop liturgical music, and the audience in the cathedral enjoyed two stunning hours of music, based on scripture texts, with the focus on psalms, hymns, Irish prayers and poetry.
And for those wondering what Fuaimlaoi means – it is a joining of two Irish words, fuaim meaning ‘sound’ and laoi meaning ‘old epic narrative poem’.
The Carlow audience enjoyed a wide range of musical styles, with Fuaimlaoi using everything from sean nós singing to choral music to bring the scriptures to life.
The newly-refurbished pipe organ takes pride of place in Carlow cathedral, with its restoration dedicated to the memory of Dr Karel Seeldrayers, who was the cathedral’s musical director from 1941 to 1977.
The event was part of a series of concerts designed to showcase the organ, and it is hoped the people of Carlow will continue to support the restoration fund, with the next concert taking place on 4 December.
THE seventh annual Carlow Afri¬can Film Festival hit Carlow town last weekend.
A full schedule of events celebrating African film and culture took place throughout Friday and Saturday, with the Visual arts centre playing host to the festival’s screenings. Each year, the festival brings renowned and celebrated African film stars to Carlow, and 2011 was no different.
In a fun twist for the audience, this year they got to walk the red carpet with special guests like South African actor Vusi Kunene, Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari, and festival patron Rudolph Walker OBE, better known to most as EastEnders’ Patrick Truman.
The festival first saw life in 2005 when it was set up by Ade Oke, with support from the likes of Carlow Local Authorities, the Arts Council of Ireland, KCLR 96FM and other local businesses.
Since then, it has grown from strength to strength and is now an integral part of Carlow’s arts scene, incorporating storytelling, film screenings along with question and answer sessions with actors to name but a few.
The weekend’s events were rounded up on Saturday, with a special festival party held in the Talbot Hotel.