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A TALENTED SECONDARY school choir in Tipperary has gone viral for their rendition of ‘O Holy Night’, which has generated hundreds of thousands of views and worldwide praise this week.
Students from Ursuline Secondary School, an all-girls school based in Thurles, Co Tipperary, were joined by members of local primary school Scoil Angela and a large audience for their annual carol service on Tuesday night in Thurles Cathedral.
The festive school event also featured an orchestra, as well as members of the local St Angela’s Academy of Music.
The service, an annual tradition for the school, featured an evening of traditional carol singing, with one standout performance of ‘O Holy Night’ gaining massive traction on social media.
The video has garnered over 800,000 views on TikTok in just two days, with hundreds of comments praising the performance of the school choir and lead singer and sixth year student Hannah Murphy.
Tríona Gleeson, Principal at Ursuline Secondary School, described the viral reaction as “a shock”.
“It was a phenomenal night, but we didn’t think this is going to happen out of it!” Gleeson said.
“It was mentioned a lot in the staff room today, the amount of teachers who were telling me they received messages from friends in Australia and worldwide that they had seen us was amazing.”
“Evena few past pupils were getting in touch with us, saying “I was in that school 30, 40 years ago and it was great” – it’s created lots of connections for people”.
Gleeson added that the school has a “massive tradition of music”, that goes back hundreds of years, and praised the work of the “fabulous students”.
“The acoustics of the event were very impressive, we were blessed to be in such a lovely location and have the big orchestra and huge choirs,” Gleeson said.
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I returned home 2 months a go after 2 years in Brazil having never been on the dole before. Now 8 weeks later I’m at my wits end, I have started two jobs since I got home only to end up loosing the as I stood up to my employers for the lack of breaks. I recently worked for a push bike courier and worked 9 hours straight,when asked about lunch I was told it was too busy. There are lazy people out there but employers seem to be able to do as they wish at times.
Unfortunately the idea of “you have a job, you should be grateful ” over the last few years has given alot of employers the attitude that employees should and will take any conditions and crap that’s thrun at them and because so many people are sinking into poverty and are barely keeping their heads above water even though they are working they feel they have no other option but to put up and shut up. It’s a vicious circle.
Have you at any point considered turning to crime or drug abuse as a result of these problems?
I was unemployed for a number of months before I emigrated and not once was this a consideration of mine.
I’m not really sure why we’re constantly being told that “lack of support” of various different types is the cause of drug use and crime. I had little support, aside from Social Welfare, while I was unemployed and managed to get my ass out of the country and a new job without starting on heroin and mugging old ladies.
Where is the support for the retired Irish mother with a husband who hasn’t worked since 2009 and is getting by on state pensions and missing the support (emotional and financial) of her adult children who have all had to emigrate, or are unemployed themselves? Nope, not a word about that – it’s *always* inner city Dublin.
Also, I’m not entirely sure how quantifiable answers to questions such as “how is the recession, and Government policy, affecting your life?” actually are and how from this they can conclude the “greatest impact of the crisis and austerity measures has been felt by people who are on the lowest incomes and most dependent on state supports and services,” Surely these are subjective?
Similarly, communities like Fatima Mansions are much easier to provide services to than, say, dispersed rural communities. The fact that the have “community workers” to speak up (be they paid or voluntary) is something. Who speaks on behalf of the many thousands of people outside inner city Dublin who aren’t mentioned in the article?
There is much food for thought in your well considered comment. Kudos.
Time for the Irish people to stand up for themselves.
Pete
Dont be silly the Irish are lap dogs. Never protest, never stand up, just take it time and time again
Sad but very true :(
It’s all the fluoride In the water,makes them dolicile.Its banned everywhere in Europe.
Bullshit
The politicians are not going to stand up for anyone. They are too busy slurping at the trough with their newly appointed consultants. Why don’t these community groups demand free electricity and water for low income families and individuals? Are they so mired in corruption that they are unable to propose some simple solutions? And before the shareholders of Ireland Inc. start gnashing their teeth, and asking who will pay for it. The answer is, the Utility corporations can easily afford to take a small dip in profits.
You shut your mouth, put on some clothes, get down them stairs and get out & get a bleedin job for yourself (Dessie Curly)
Can’t find the full report online, does anyone have a link?
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