Farewell Future Wives

Congratulations to Mr. Ronan Swift, teacher by day, singer-songwriter by night, on the launch of his second album, Farewell Future Wives. Mr. Swift played to an extremely appreciative audience at the launch party last night in the Unitarian Church on Stephen's Green.

Mr. Swift is joined on this CD by his regular accomplices Eoin O'Brien, Josh Johnston, Bill Blackmore, Malachy Robinson and Dara O'Brien. The album was recorded in the St. Columba's Chapel and the acoustics captured lend the music an interesting, relaxed sound.

'The theme of the new album is the old-fashioned business of courtship. It uses a variety of settings and approaches – musical, lyrical and contextual – to capture the highs and lows of finding a soul mate (or even something less profound) in the first decade of a new ‘minnellium’.

'From full band tracks to more intimate solo performances, from a Henry Purcell male voice choir to a 10 minute epic set on New Year’s Eve 1999, variety is the spice of this release.Using different song styles, spoken anecdotes and Ronan’s naturally inviting storytelling lyrics, the listener is introduced to a colourful troupe of protagonists and onlookers.

'There’s the “west London fop” of You’re Havin’ A Baby, an Italian sweetheart in European Union, the Awful Man on the Tottenham Court Road, a national school mummy (Adulterous Thoughts) and a herd of Fresian cows (Interrupted By Cattle). Ronan is intuitive and versatile in his lyric writing; once wistful and poetic and then direct and bawdy, but always vivid and honest.'

The album is available online through iTunes and also Tower Records, Road Records, Shandon Records and CDBaby.

For more information please see the Unitarian Church News Website and Shandon Records.

First Concert of the new year

The first concert of the new academic year will take place on the Saturday the 12th of September. The programme will consist of music the choir sang on its recent trip to Tuscany which will be intersperced by presentations given by the pupils involved.

Installation of the new Chaplain

Last night saw the installation of the new college Chaplain, Rev. Nigel Crossey, in chapel at which the choir sang Pittoni's Cantate Domino, Caccini's Ave Maria and the Lord's Prayer.

This was also the first chance to showcase the fantastic renovations to the chapel's Pipe Organ which was overhauled over the summer break and is sounding better than ever.

The ceremony was held by the Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough. Many congratulations to Rev. Crossey, we wish him the very best and well done to the Chapel Choir who sang wonderfully after a mere four days back in college.

Music Lessons

Instrument lessons start next week so sign up as soon as possible! There is a huge range of instruments available here in St. Columba's including Piano, Violin, Cello, Guitar, Voice, Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, Trombone, Harp, Drums, Xylophone and many more.

Lesson times will be published downstairs in the Cadogan on the notice boards early next week so check regularly for your day and time of lesson. Take your permission slip, from the notice board, with you to class and present it to your teacher when you ask to leave class. You will not be taken out of the same class each week.

Sign up sheets are available from Mrs. Malone-Brady and Mr. Clarke.

Welcome back!

The academic year has begun again here at St. Columba's College and that means another year full of concert trips, pupil concerts, chapel performances and choir practices among other events.

Keep an eye on the blog and calendar for further updates.