The church organ at St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Enniscorthy, isn’t performing to expected standards and a fundraising campaign is in full flight to fund a full restoration and A Musical Evening with various guests will assist the effort and it takes place in the church on Sunday, April 8th at 7.30 pm.
“The organ is ‘wheezing’ at the moment and it needs to be refurbished. We could have replaced it, but it is an historical musical instrument and we would like to keep it working for the benefit of Enniscorthy, as we hope to develop the church as a tourist attraction,” said Rev. Nicola Halford, Rector of Enniscorthy-Monart Union of Parishes.
The first church organ was totally destroyed in the 1798 Rebellion. It’s replacement was an amateur band. An entry in the Vestry Minutes of 1824 thanked “the gentleman of the Amateur Band for their kindness,” but they continued their services until 1831 when replaced by a harmonium.
An organ was erected in 1864, and it came with a history. It had belonged to the Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle, where it had been erected by Telford in 1815, and it was first used there in the Thanksgiving Service for the victory at the Battle of Waterloo. And it is still in service!
Rev. Halford hopes that work ón restoring the church organ to full health can start during the summer and be completed by the end of this year.
Sunday night’s musical fundraiser is promoted by Enniscorthy Lions Club and tickets at €10 are available at a number of local outlets, but it is also acceptable to pay ón the door. A great night of entertainment is assured.