Nuns will take to the stage in Ballinasloe for a night of musical entertainment as part of a welcome home concert for emigrants of the Clonfert Diocese.
Sisters from the Salesian Convent in Brosna, Co. Offaly, the Mercy convent, and the La Sainte Union community in Athlone will entertain both locals and returned exiles of the Clonfert Diocese for one night only.
Fr Seán Slattery of Kilconnell, who organises the yearly concert, always endeavours to get a variety of entertainers, but he admits that this year’s show is really quite unique,
It’s going to be some craic...the music is first class, as far as I’m concerned, we have piano accordion, button accordion, fiddles, drums, spoons, you name it...I would urge the people to come and see for themselves really, but I guarantee them a night’s entertainment they won’t forget.
Sr Nuala Delaney of the Salesian order is acting producer. A phone call from Fr Slattery got her thinking about her community’s talents, and it didn’t take too much persuading to get them on stage,
I feel that we have plenty of talent among the sisters...occasionally we do have quite a bit of craic together in the communities, singing, dancing, putting little concerts, little items together.
Plans for the All Nuns Show has reached overseas, and piqued the curiosity of the English newspapers and radio stations. A record number of emigrants are expected to return home for the concert, which raises funds for the education of priests for the Diocese of Clonfert.
This report for ‘Morning Ireland’ is by Kevin McDonald, and was broadcast on 4 August 1987. The programme is presented by David Hanly.
'Morning Ireland' is RTÉ's breakfast news programme broadcast each weekday morning between 7am and 9am on RTÉ Radio 1. The programme was first broadcast in 1984. The programme is co-presented and over the years presenters have included David Hanly, Joe Little, Áine Lawlor, Cathal Mac Coille, Rachael English and Gavin Jennings.
