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Eco-charity concert planned in Killarney

St Mary’s the Church of the Sloes is staging a charity concert in aid of eco-charities in Kerry tomorrow night (Thursday August 15).

St Mary’s is bringing back to Killarney the modern setting of St Francis of Assisi’ ‘Canticle of the Sun’.

The concert, ‘Canticle of Creation’, takes place at 8pm with the majority of proceeds going to Transition Kerry.

The piece is a musical setting and performed by Vincent Kennedy (trumpet) accompanied by Marina Cassidy (harp).

The sponsors, Muckross House & Gardens Trustees, Killarney Park Hotel with the Ross Hotel, Randles Hotel with the Dromhall Hote, have graciously provided for the publicity and other costs of staging the event so the whole of the ticket sales will go to charity, explained Archdeacon Simon J Lumby.

“It is fitting that we have this concert now, to draw people’s attention to the honour and respect in which our world is held by that most Celtic of the European saints: Francis,” he said.

“The encouragement of this Canticle links beautifully with the upcoming season of creation during which we focus our undivided attention on the way in which we, our actions and behaviour impact upon creation. The lifestyle of humanity has already used up this years’ allocation of our world’s resources! We’ll need 1.7 worlds to keep us going at this rate.”

Marina Cassidy is a well-known and well-loved performer and attracts a wide ranging audience for locals and visitors alike. Her playing of the harp and her singing are very well regarded, he added.

"The rich, pure quality of her soprano voice and her ability to interpret her material, musically and emotionally, combined with her craft as a harper, weaves a magical web which catches us all within its spell.”

Vincent Kennedy was commissioned by the Franciscan Order in Ireland to compose the piece and it has been performed at the Friary, in Dublin and Kinsale.

“Vincent is an internationally renowned composer and conductor who has written symphonies, cantatas, concertos, and works for practically every type of performance from solo to symphony orchestra with chorus. His music is played worldwide.”

Tickets on Eventbrite and on the door €20.