ST PETER'S CHURCH BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS

THE CLONMEL GOSPEL CHOIR

Led by Jonathan Ryan they gave what has been described as 'a wonderful evening's entertainment.' Their happy appearance and approach lifted the whole audience and their singing was superb in both variety and content. We are extremely grateful to them for coming at such short notice and replacing the Tullamore Gospel Choir which was advertised.

PAGEANT TRACES ST PETER'S HISTORY

Devised by John Behan with the pupils of Maryborough NS, the pageant called The Graveyard is an historical picture of the life of St Peter's Church and Portlaoise and includes historical figures such as Queen Mary and King Philip, Highwaymen Captain Grant and Cathal na gCapaill; also very important figures such as James Christopher Fitzmaurice from Portlaoise (who was a navigator on the first transatlantic flight from Europe to America), Bartholomew Mosse (the Portlaoise man who founded the Rotunda Hospital, the first maternity hospital in Europe), William Dargan (the Laois man who engineered the first railways of Ireland), and many more.

The pageant has been in production since June this year and has involved a large number of very hard working people; the staff of the Arts Office, the teachers, parents and pupils of Maryborough NS, costume designer and producer Frances Coss, set and props designer Pacharamas Pusri, as well as John Behan and his wife. A very big thank-you to everyone for a brilliant show.