Concert Hall Restoration Project

Sion Hill was proud to welcome President Mary McAleese and her husband Dr Martin McAleese, to a Gala Concert on Saturday February 16th, 2008 to mark the reopening of our magnificantly restored Concert Hall.

The Hall, which dates from 1928, has been refurbished to meet modern needs in sound, lighting and seating as well as getting fresh coats of plaster, paint, varnish and new velvet stage and window curtains. Mr Fergus Finlay, Chair of the school's Board of Management and Master of Ceremonies for the evening described it as "majestic".

President McAleese's arrival was eargerly awaited by both performers and the audience of Patrons who generously funded the Project, Dominican Sisters, the Board of Management, Parents' Committee, Staff and Friends of Sion Hill, all of whom took their seats at 7.15pm.

The President was welcomed from her car by Mr Gerry Killion, Deputy Principal, Elaine Mooney, Head Girl and Susie Meindl, Deputy Head Girl. As she entered the Hall foyer she was greeted by Ms Carol-Ann O'Gorman and by Sr Una Dempsey on behalf of the Dominican Congregation. The audience then stood as the Presidential Salute was played.

There were warm words of welcome from the Principal, Ms Sheila Drum, who also thanked all those who contributed to and were involved in the refurbishment of the Hall. Sr Helen O'Dwyer, Prioress of the Irish Region, blessed the Hall and then proceedings were opened by Mr Fergus Finlay.

A joyous musical feast followed under the direction of Ms Wendy Stephens as the concert opened to the strains of Lionel Bart's Who will Buy, performed by the Chamber Choir. Further treats included a violin solo by Alice Moynihan; piano solo by Ayane Yamanaka; harp solo by Claire Roche; the Orchestra, conducted by Emer O'Keefe; dance troupe trained by Sarah Canning; The 15 Minute Hamlet by Tom Stoppard, directed by Sean Leahy; a poetry reading by Kathleen Watkins; vocal solos by Sarah Byrne, Deputy Head Girl, Fiona O'Carroll and Louise Byrne, a performance by the the Past Students' Choir and a song from the trio Claire Neville, Clare Tynan and former principal Michael Brady.

The Senior Choir and the Orchestra, conducted by Wendy Stephens, rounded off the evening with a heartfelt rendition of the final chorus from Oklahoma. The concert concluded with rapturous applause from an appreciative audience. Afterwards, President McAleese took time to meet guests and generously conveyed how much she enjoyed the concert

A selection of photos from the evening can be seen in our gallery (see Student Menu Bar)

The Gala Concert Commemorative Programme can be downloaded here