St EUNAN’S Cathedral’s all Irish choir, Cór Ailigh, returned home on Monday after a very successful trip to Rome and the Vatican last weekend.
On Saturday morning they were met in St Peter’s Square by Donegal’s Monsignor Eamonn McLoughlin who then led the choir into St Peter’s Basilica where they sang at the 12 noon Mass at the Altar of the chair.
The Mass was con-celebrated by Monsignor McLoughlin.
It was a very spiritual, uplifting and proud moment for all members of the choir.
When the Mass ended Monsignor McLoughlin blessed the choir in the Basilica in a quiet and private ceremony.
He described the singing during the Mass ‘as gaeilge’ as one of his proudest moments since he moved to Rome.
On Saturday night, the choir was hosted in the Druids Den by the owner and Letterkenny native, Donna Bianconi.
On Sunday the choir joined the Irish community in the historic Coláiste na nGaedheal where they sang at the 10am Mass.
The choir members said it was an honour and privilege to sing in a venue which has such strong links between the Church in Ireland and the Popes.
It also contains the monument to the heart of Daniel Ó Connell.
The choir was hosted to refreshments and an impromptu singalong following the Mass.
On leaving the Irish College the choir members witnessed a spectacular flyover by the Italian Airforce.
In the afternoon, the choir visited the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps where they entertained the locals and tourists with their singing.
The day ended with an unexpected opportunity to see His Holiness, Pope Francis at the Basilica Saint Mary Major following the Eucharistic procession.
This was one of the highlights of the trip for the Letterkenny group.
Tour leader, Micheál Ó Giobúin expressed his absolute satisfaction on how the trip went.
“It was a spiritual and enriching experience, a once in a lifetime opportunity and all the Cór Ailigh group members grasped every moment of it.
“It was really something special to be able to sing in our own language in St Peter’s Basilica,” he said.
He praised the choir’s musical director, Ann Nicholls for the tremendous work she did in preparing the choir for the trip.
Cór Ailigh will now take a well earned break for the summer and look forward to resuming again in September.
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