Star performers join Order of Malta Cadets for nursing homes Christmas Concert
Thursday December 17, 202017th December 2020: 30,000 nursing home residents are being invited to a very special Christmas concert. The “Order of Malta Shannon Cadets & Friends Christmas Concert” will be staged in nursing homes across the country this coming week. Young performers from the Order of Malta will perform with household names to bring music, dance and poetry into nursing homes. Mike Hanrahan from Stockton’s Wing, Fr Ray Kelly, the Shannon Gospel Choir, Michael Donnellan from Riverdance and the Kilfenora Céilí Band are taking to the virtual stage with over 12 Order of Malta cadets aged 10 to 16 years of age.
The special virtual event will be broadcast in nursing homes across the country in the lead up to Christmas and is the brainchild of Nicole Hennephof, a Cadet Liaison Officer (Volunteer) with the South West Region of Order of Malta.
Nicole explains: “We want every nursing home in the country to enjoy this very special Christmas concert. The idea for it came about when, through the Order of Malta, I witnessed a window visit. It was heart-breaking and very emblematic of just how difficult this year has been for nursing home residents and their relatives. I asked the cadets would they be interested in performing for residents by video to be shown in local nursing homes and they jumped at the opportunity. I then made contact with Mike Hanrahan, Fr Ray Kelly and local performing groups and artists and I was delighted by their enthusiasm to perform and support this. Dromoland Castle very generously allowed us film much of the concert on their grounds and there is a wonderful festive feel to it all. With the support of my son Stephen Hall (Hallway Media) we’ve packaged the performances into one very special hour and hope it brings song, dance and joy to nursing home residents this Christmas.”
The concert will be broadcast here: https://vimeo.com/489218555/89ed9e2b4e
Nursing Homes Ireland CEO Tadhg Daly states: “Music, dance and poetry are vital in supporting the wellbeing of people in our nursing homes. Nicole’s kindness will be appreciated in nursing homes up and down the country and will help support the Christmas celebrations at the end of what has been a very difficult year. I extend a huge thank you to Nicole and all involved on behalf of nursing homes.”
Nicole’s generosity was also evident back in May, when she brought together another video with junior cadets learning and performing “Lámh”. In it, the cadets paid tribute and expressed thanks to frontline workers by reciting Ireland’s Call in sign-language supported by the Peace Proms Choir & Cross Border Orchestra .
You can watch that video here: https://youtu.be/uXje5lo7TIg
Nicole is available for interview and can be contacted at 086 3826720. Press release issued by Michael McGlynn, Nursing Homes Ireland Communications & Research Executive, who can be contacted at 087 9082970.