Northern Ireland

Queen's University Belfast chaplaincy folk group reunites for special Mass

Former members of the Queen's Catholic Chaplaincy Choir, founded in 1979, were re-united on Saturday for a special Mass. Picture by Paul Flanagan
Former members of the Queen's Catholic Chaplaincy Choir, founded in 1979, were re-united on Saturday for a special Mass. Picture by Paul Flanagan Former members of the Queen's Catholic Chaplaincy Choir, founded in 1979, were re-united on Saturday for a special Mass. Picture by Paul Flanagan

MUSICIANS and singers of all ages came together at the weekend as a university music group celebrated its past and looked to the future.

A special Mass was held at the Catholic Chaplaincy at Queen's University Belfast in recognition of its folk group.

A reunion took place at the 6pm vigil Mass on Saturday, which was concelebrated by Fr Ambrose Macaulay, Fr Joe Gunn and the current chaplain Fr Gerard Magee.

The Catholic Chaplaincy Choir, or Folk Group, was launched in 1979 with around 20 students.

Deirdre Carabine, who was studying music and scholastic philosophy, asked Fr Macaulay at the chaplaincy if she could start a choir to sing at the Friday noon and Sunday evening Masses.

He agreed, and a small band of scholastic philosophy students and their friends began to practice.

The choir grew steadily throughout the 1980s and included the 'singing priests' - Fr David Delargy, Fr Martin O'Hagan and Fr Eugene O'Hagan.

It faded away in the years since but there are hopes that Saturday's Mass will re-invigorate today's students to take up the reins.

University chaplain Fr Magee is a former head of music at St Malachy's College in Belfast and was also orchestra manager at the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland.