On Sunday 28th November 2009, Kilkenny Gospel Choir hosted a gospel choir workshop in the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel.  Fr. Willie Purcell led what was a very enjoyable afternoon.  We learned all about the origins of gospel music, along with the many different styles of singing within the genre of gospel music.  The joyful sounds of gospel music could be heard throughout the hotel as Fr. Willie directed the choirs in song. 

The afternoon finished all too soon for many of us, such was our enjoyment of the day.  We now wait in anticipation of the next workshop to be held in March 2010.

They processed down the central aisle at Christ Church Cathedral in their red robes, to a tambourine beat, (piano and two guitars) and Kilkenny Gospel Choir sang and swayed and clapped into the lives of their audience. They came to share, to enliven and enrich and delight and that they did in abundance.

There was that uplifting, heartfelt, emotional link as Every Time I Feel The Spirit and Gonna Lay Down My Burdens, caught the holy roller rock and roller mood of the sixties – ain’t gonna study war no more. Great harmonies and heartfelt solo work reminded me of Eva Cassidy, Iris De Ment and the power of Mahalia Jackson.

It seemed too early for the stand up and holler stuff but it got nice and happy clappy. The audience responded and it was call and response for Do Lord and the anthemic Swing Low Sweet Chariot and a beautiful Because He Lives with a good lead voice took the work, at the Coffee Concert, into a more soulful plane. Open Our Eyes Lord was a modern song, with a beautiful solo line that was memorable. Somebody’s Prayin’ was a highlight with its soulful reflective message and Heaven Is In My Heart returned the choir and audience to a rousing, almost dancing, Everytime I Feel The Spirit.

Lynn Cahill must bring this Kilkenny Gospel Choir back again in the Autumn.

Review by Liam Murphy, Munster Express, March 27th 2009.

ilkenny gospel choir launches charity CD If the Kilkenny Gospel Choir was only that – a gospel choir – it would be impressive enough. The group, which launches its first CD today, has performed at the National Concert Hall and earned the admiration of the Blind Boys of Alabama when it attended a concert by the boys at Vicar Street in Dublin and ended up performing a number of songs with them