WATCH: St Pat's Christmas video

This year saw St. Patrick’s College release their 11th annual Christmas CD production with its proceeds going to a very worthwhile cause.

The Christmas single tradition began back in 2011 with Josh McClorey (formerly of The Strypes) and Liam van der Spek writing an original song as part of a TY project. It involved almost the entire music department with representatives from the choir, jazz band and traditional Irish group.

That tradition has continued to this day and hundreds of students have been involved over the last eleven years.

Proceeds from the sales have been donated to a number of TY projects, CAPS, SOSAD and this year St Christopher’s Hospice. Last year’s CD raised €1,300 for SOSAD.

This year’s CD features all the songs written from 2011-2021. The writing process for the last two years has been facilitated by workshops provided by well known talent and former student of the college, Daragh Slacke.

This year Mike Patterson, formerly of Travis Oaks, joined Daragh in what has become an annual event in the college.

This year’s song ‘For Christmas’ was written by Conor Lynch in TY and Daniel Nicholls in 5th year. The song touches on the theme of family gathering and also references the Covid19 pandemic that has gripped the world and affected all our lives.

As in previous years the choir, traditional Irish group and jazz band are involved. For the second year in a row everyone had to navigate Covid restrictions but a determination to get the project written, recorded and released prevailed and the finished CD will go on sale on Tuesday, December 21.

The artwork under supervision of Ms Dawn McKeon was completed by Eoin Flood and Arslan Akhtar and the booklet was compiled by Anthony Boyko. Mr Monahan and members of transition year are working on the video which will be released on YouTube.

All proceeds are being donated to St. Christopher’s Hospice. CDs are on sale priced €7 from Multisound, Cavan and the school office.