Due to the very sad demise of the Welcome Inn Hotel, Mayo Male Voice Choir committee members were left scratching their heads (and many don't have much on top to scratch!) as to where to find a venue at short notice for their Annual Spring Concert.

The date had been selected and the ever popular Sean Costello, tenor and the equally popular Frank Forde, compere, were invited to keep the night free on their diaries. After much deliberation and suggestions the choir have finally settled on a date change in order to avail of the excellent facilities of Breaffy House Hotel, the MMVC annual concert is now to be held on Thursday, April 28th at 8 pm.

It is going to be a great, great night's entertainment with a 1916 flavour to some of the new repertoire. MMVC members, David Loring and Joseph Garvey, have taken the beautiful and moving "Grace" and arranged it especially for our choir. There will be many new songs getting their first outing with MMVC including the "Jug of Punch" and "Worried Man Blues". A favourite of our sadly missed founder member Michael Basquille, "Rest of the World Goes By" had to be included in the programme also.

Catherine Gannon and Mary Costello enjoyed the performance of MMVC at the Golf Club Fashion Show held in Breaffy House Hotel on Thursday 31st March.

The choir are delighted to have the brilliant tenor, Seán Costello, join them this year. It has been several years since Seán has sung with MMVC, but there is no doubt that he is a firm favourite with the choir members and very popular all over Mayo. He is guaranteed to entertain on the night whether singing songs from his Josef Locke repertoire or from his vast catalogue of other greats.

The Garvey Brothers, James and Joseph, both valuable choir members, will also be emerging from the choir ranks to take the spotlight on the night. James' amazing vocal (with harmonies provided by Joseph) on "Bridge over Troubled Waters" was the absolute highlight of last year's concert. Who's to know what they will come up with this year but it certainly will be well worth waiting for.

In the role of compere, MMVC is delighted to welcome the inimitable Frank Forde for the first time. Now a star of TV and radio, there is no doubt that the many characters Frank can drum up will leave a smile on the face of every audience member.

So, if you enjoy choral music, if you enjoy listening to a really top class tenor, if you enjoy a laugh with our super compere for the night, then please come along on Thursday, 28th April.

Mary Galvin and Elaine Waldron also enjoyed the performance at the Golf Club Fashion Show.

The concert begins at 8 pm and a great night's entertainment is guaranteed. Tickets are €15 and are available from any choir member, from Reception in Breaffy House Hotel or at the door on the night.

Finally, MMVC would like to thank all involved in inviting our choir to participate in the extremely successful Castlebar Golf Club fashion show held on Thursday 31st March. The choir's next outing is in Louisburgh on next Friday 15th April where they will participate in a fund raiser for the Louisburgh Order of Malta. They are hoping to meet all their friends from the Louisburgh area and if it's as good as the last time the choir were there it will be standing room only!