Write a commentNewry Cathedral is one of the venues for a unique 12 Gigs in 12 Cathedrals fundraiser this month, by Armagh couple Elise Crean and Dessie Moorcroft. The pair will travel by motorcycle from venue to venue starting in Armagh at 7am and finishing back in Armagh at 9pm.
Elise, the resident organist in First Armagh Presbyterian Church is raising money towards the £70,000 required to rebuild the church’s historic organ.
Each stop will be exactly 30 minutes long to enable them to strictly stick to the schedule and complete the round trip through each of the six counties on time. The 12-venue, 270-mile dash is scheduled for 21 July and Elise will be travelling pillion on a powerful motorcycle piloted by husband Dessie.
Elise will be playing a programme of favourites from across the centuries including Purcell’s Trumpet Tune, Pachelbel’s Canon in D, Elgar’s Nimrod (from Enigma Variations) and Karg-Elert’s Nun danket alle Gott. Each concert will also feature an organ and bagpipe duet of Highland Cathedral.
As Elise says “This may be the first time a church organist has been seen in motorcycle gear and I am hoping that a combination of curiosity and generosity will help generate audiences for each concert,”
Venues and Timings 21 July 2018
0700 Armagh - St Patrick’s RC Cathedral
0800 Newry - Cathedral of St Patrick and St Colman
0925 Downpatrick - Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity
1030 Dromore - Cathedral Church of Christ the Redeemer
1115 Lisburn – Lisburn Cathedral
1205 Belfast – St Anne’s Cathedral
1345 Belfast – St Peter’s Cathedral
1545 Derry/Londonderry – St Columb’s Cathedral
1625 Derry/Londonderry - St Eugene’s Cathedral
1840 Enniskillen – St Macartin’s Cathedral
1945 Clogher – St Macartan’s Cathedral
2100 Armagh – St Patrick’s COI Cathedral
Fundraising details at www.justgiving.com
