Solstice Song for Ashbourne honours community in solidarity
The team behind Ash 2020 have released a new rendition of “Ashbourne’s Anthem” to pay tribute to the solidarity the community have shown one another throughout this testing year.
Over 200 local people took part in the recording of “The Solstice Song for Ashbourne,” to coincide with the Newgrange Winter Solstice.
The Anthem had its premiere in September 2019 to mark the visit from Australia of Juanita Carroll, the Great-Great Granddaughter of Frederick Bourne, the Towns Founder.
It was composed by Ashborean Siúbhán Ní Gríofa, with lyrics by Siúbhán, Ian Jenkinson, Giovanna and Ephrem Feeley.
The new rendering is the brainchild of Giovanna Feeley and her newly formed Choral group, Ashbourne Singing.
In November Giovanna invited the Citizens of Ashbourne to submit a video of their vocal or instrumental interpretation of the Anthem. The response was beyond expectations, with submissions from as far away as South Bend, Indiana; more than forty individuals and six classes from Ashbourne's schools sent in their videos.
The challenge of turning this cornucopia of creativity into a coherent performance then fell to Shane Barriscale, who rose to the task with the facility of the True Master.
The result is a joy for all to relish, a new dawn wherein we rediscover local strengths, it’s a veritable beacon of Community Spirit.
A spokesperson for the project said:
“The initial program for ASH2020 had featured an end-of-year concert, closing off a year of events and celebrations marking the Towns bicentenary; 42 events in all were planned.
“The old adage 'if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans' springs to mind; in the heel of the hunt, we managed just twelve projects, all excellently delivered and including some that will have a lasting effect on the Town.
“If there was ever a year when the Solstice idea of 'embracing the New Dawn' carried palpable meaning, surely it is this year.
“So, the Solstice Song for Ashbourne, bringing together 42 citizens as well as 160 schoolchildren from six classrooms represents the symbolic concert that must await another year.”
Liam Mulvihill, Chair of the ASH2020 Board said: 'This proves yet again that great trials prompt, first, endurance, then creativity, and out of that comes new experiences and greater all-round wellbeing'.
Solstice Anthem for Ashbourne can be heard at www.ash2020.com or on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ASHBOURNE2020