Cavan priest set for a magical night at the National Concert Hall

A Killinkere priest is experiencing a heady mix of excitement and nerves ahead of showcasing his heavenly voice at the National Concert Hall next week.

Fr Darragh Connolly joins a host of soloists to perform a concert arranged to celebrate the 90th birthday of Dublin musical legend Jim Molloy.

The Killinkere PP joins established names such as Derek Ryan, Hannah Brady and Deierdre Masterson, under the musical direction of Aidan Faughey for the concert entitled From Vienna to Broadway - a nod to the many sell out concerts Jim organised for the landmark venue. Fr Darragh won't be the only cleric on stage as Fr Eugene O'Hagan of The Priests fame is also on the bill.

For the occasion, Fr Darragh is performing the stunning operatic number Una Furtiva Lagrima. Requiring enormous vocal range and control - it was a show-stopper Luciano Pavarotti had in his repertoire.

Father Darragh is participating in the event having been asked by his singing teacher to join the line-up.

"I'm performing a song called Una Furtiva Lagrima, which is a song from an opera by Gaetano Donizetti. Translated into English it means A Furtive Tear. My singing teacher Kathryn Smith, who is also singing in the show, reckoned that there aren't many who could sing it, but thought I would be able to."

While this is Fr Darragh's debut on such a stage, the event is something he's eagerly anticipating.

"It's my first time singing in the NCH, and with an orchestra. I'm excited but nervous. It's a great opportunity so I hope it goes well."

Despite becoming well known as a singer in recent years, he is relatively new to it and his background is predominantly in trad music.

"I play the Uilleann pipes, my roots are in traditional Irish music. I only got into singing in the last seven or eight years. I remember doing a bit of singing in primary school with the occasional teacher who was into music, but I didn't sing for years until I was in the choir in college in Maynooth with Dr John O'Keeffe, he encouraged me a lot. Then a few years ago I started taking lessons in the Cavan Academy of Music where I worked with Julia Voytko.

One of the first times Father Darragh sang was to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the church in his native Killeshandra in 2013. He also launched an album a 2018 called 'I Hear You Calling Me'. In 2020 he also sang in Maynooth for a pre recorded RTÉ Christmas programme.

"I launched the album in the Hotel Kilmore in 2018, there was a massive crowd, I couldn't believe it, it was fantastic. My career was very organic, but singing is something you have to continually work on. You get out of it what you put into it."

No doubt Fr Darragh will put everything into it.

To see Fr Darragh and the other guests grace the National Concert Hall stage on Tuesday, October 26 for the show From Vienna to Broadway, log onto www.nch.ie for ticket information.