Handel Challenge - mission accomplished!

Huge congratulations must be extended to the hardworking men and women of the Handel Challenge Choir and Committee who last night handed over a cheque for €33,543 to Mayo Roscommon Hospice.

Handel's Messiah was performed in The Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar, on December 8th last. Almost 100 local choral singers joined forces with The Celtic Concert Orchestra and four of Ireland's top soloists to present an incredibly special performance to an enthralled capacity crowd. Introduced by RTÉ's Mary Kennedy and under the baton of Musical Director, Kathy Fahy, the Handel Challenge choir truly rose to the occasion after three months of intensive rehearsals. Their challenge was to learn and perform Messiah but also to fundraise at least €200 each. We are delighted to have far exceeded our initial target of €20,000.

Click to enlarge photo.

Thanks were extended last night to all those who voluntarily gave of their time and talents to help make The Handel Challenge the success it was. All proceeds will go towards the building fund of a 14 bed specialist Palliative Care Unit to be built in Castlebar in the foreseeable future. Mayo Roscommon Hospice looked after 802 patients in 2013 and this donation will go a long way towards allowing them to continue their invaluable work in the west of Ireland.