Venue change for 34th Annual Samaritans Christmas Concert

The 34th Annual Samaritans Christmas Concert is set to be held in Ss Peter's and Pauls Church after the recent closure of the previous venue, Athlone's Friary church.

Taking place on December 5, the occasion will feature The Army Band of the 2nd Brigade, who will provide the main musical support for the concert.

The Athlone-based band, which has been so loyal in its support of the concert since 1991, has been an integral part of the cultural life of the Midlands and West of Ireland since its own formation in 1936.

It performs a large range of military, state and civilian engagements each year, and is currently conducted by the Captain John Carpenter. The band will be accompanied by tenor Paul Linehan.

A native of Cork, Paul has performed throughout the country from Belfast’s Waterfront Theatre and Cork Opera House to The National Concert Hall, Farmleigh House and The Mansion House in Dublin, as well as many local venues throughout the county.

He has also performed in the US, the UK, the Czech Republic, France, Spain, Switzerland and Syria.

The band will be joined by the award-winning choir Athlone A Cappella and the ever-popular Athlone Pipe Band.

The compere on the night will be Joe MacCarrick.

The concert organiser, Deirdre Collins, makes the point that as well as being a very important annual fundraiser for Athlone Samaritans it is also a very important event to raise awareness of the availability of the 24-hour service over the long holiday period.

She would like to thank Fr Gabriel and the Franciscan community for facilitating the concert in The Friary Church for the last 18 years.

She also expresses her thanks to Fr John Deignan for facilitating the return of the concert to the Church of Saints Peter and Paul this Christmas and is gratefully anticipating the loyal support of the community in their attendance at the concert.

Tickets are priced at €20, and are available for purchase at Mullingan's, Roscommon Road, Athlone, Cunningham's Pharmacies, and Whyte’s Pharmacy, Arcadia.

The Samaritans are available 24 hours on free call 116 123 for anyone who is lonely, troubled or needs to talk to someone in confidence.