Every
year The Annual Novena at Knock Shrine takes place from August
14th until the 22nd. Each day there is a guest soloist, on Friday
August 19th Michael English was the guest, he sang several Hymns
with the Choir and during the distribution of Holy Communion he
sang one of his own compositions “Windows in Heaven”.
After the ceremonies The Parish Priest at Knock Monsignor Joseph
Quinn thanked Michael for coming and asked him had he ever considered
writing a Hymn about Knock?
The Vision of Knock
On the way home to Portlaoise Michael got the inspiration to write
a hymn and by the time he got home he had composed the three verses,
he did not have a writing pen with him so he texted the words into
his mobile phone. He then got in touch with his Musical Director
Ollie Hennessey and he produced and arranged the hymn, Michael
and Ollie contacted The Cill Aodian Choral Society in Kiltimagh
which is just six miles from Knock Shrine, the choir accompanied
Michael in the recording of the hymn and it was fitting that
the first public performance was at a special concert in Kiltimagh
back in November, Michael received a standing ovation after
the performance.
Fr Joe Taffe Memorial Fund
Sunday Night November 26th a capacity audience came together
in The Church of St John, Evangelist. Tubbercurry. Co Sligo.
This was a very special Liturgical Concert organised by Tubbercurry
Golf Club to raise money for The Irish Welfare in Birmingham
to purchase a wheel chair accessible Mini Bus, the bus will
be used to bring clients of the Irish Welfare to St Eugene’s
Centre in Digbeth.The concert was dedicated to the memory of
the Late Fr Joe Taaffe, a past Director of the centre and a
native of Knock.
The Concert got underway just after 7pm and the audience
were treated to a feast of fine entertainment until 10pm.Taking
part were the local Choir, Fr James Mc Donagh and his Sister
Mary Frain. Bridie Giblin and Ruth Gannon. Seoda a wonderful
Choir from Ballyshannon. Jamie Rock who is a cousin of the
Legendary Dickie Rock, Local Tenor Kieran Lundy and Michael
English. Michael was the Special Guest and it was the first
opportunity for most of the audience to hear him sing the Hymn “Vision
of Knock”, the audience requested Michael to sing the Hymn
a second time and he received a standing ovation as he concluded
his performance.
The Captain of the local Golf Club Harold Mc Manus addressed the
audience, he had great praise for the men who emigrated to England
over the past 100 years, and who sent vital money home to help
their families, he also acknowledged the tremendous work done by Bridie
Nugent and her hard working staff at The Irish Welfare in Birmingham.
He thanked all the artists who gave their time for free, he wished
Michael good luck with his new C D and offered him sincere thanks
for coming all the way from Portlaoise, he finally thanked the
capacity audience for coming along to support such a worthy cause. December 8th All Night Vigil at Knock Shrine
Michael returned to Knock Shrine for the all Night Vigil; it was
nice to see the Basilica full to capacity, again he was the soloist
on the night, he sang Twenty Five Hymns throughout the ceremonies
and was warmly applauded when he sang “Vision Of Knock”,
Monsignor Joseph Quinn congratulated Michael on his wonderful
composition and acknowledged his generosity in giving all the
proceeds of the C D to The Mayo Roscommon Hospice. On the night
staff from the hospice were on hand to offer the
C D’s for sale and most of the congregation purchased one.
Michael was delighted to greet Gill Marseilles who had traveled all
the way from London for the vigil, Gill co-ordinates “The Friends
of Michael Website” and has been also instrumental in setting
up many interviews for him with the Media Worldwide.
Michael’s
Generosity
Michael is an incredible and generous young man, he had the
new C D on sale at the Concert in Kiltimagh and again at the
The Fr Taaffe Memorial Concert in Tubbercurry, he sold One
Hundred and Eighty in Tubercurry and Signed every one for the
audience who queued patiently for up to an hour, on December
9th Michael joined The Castlebar Choir along with Frankie Forde
Waldron Musical Director from Knock, they assembled in the
Town’s Shopping Centre and sang Christmas
Carols for Three Hours, the C D was also on sale and over a Hundred
was sold and the collection buckets were filled with money from the
generous shoppers. Michael was amazed that in just ten days from
the launch almost Two Thousand C D’s were sold. His Holiness
The Pope wrote a personal letter to Michael complimenting him
on his wonderful Hymn; he also received congratulations from
The Irish President Mrs Mary Mc Alesse.
A Short Biography on Micheal
Michael was born in Castledermot in Co Kildare on the 23rd of April
1979, he was the youngest of Three Children, he was born into
a very musical household, his older Sisters Patricia and Olivia
were talented musicians, his Mother Colette was a fine Irish
Dancer and his Father Pat was an accomplished button key accordionist.
From a very young age Michael took a great interest in music
and at the age of nine he enrolled at The Hennessey School of
Music in Carlow, he left his studies in Carlow and moved to The
Royal Academy of Music in Dublin. One night after studies Michael
missed his bus home, he decided to call into Bramer Rooms to
wait for his next bus, The Mainliners were playing in the function
room, during a break in the music Michael approached Henry Mc
Mahon of the Mainliners, they had a chat and Henry gave the words
of a song to Michael which he had recently composed, the song
was called “The Nearest to Perfect”, Michael
went on to record the song and overnight his career was launched,
he was signed by Ritz Records and Michael’s first album was
launched entitled “The Nearest to Perfect” his second
album was “My World”, last year he launched a fine album
called “Best of Friends”
Michael has toured extensively in Ireland and England, he appeared
at “Brolly and Friends” last June at The Symphony Hall
and received a wonderful reception.
He is a talented entertainer and if you have the opportunity
to get along to one of his shows, you will be in for a real treat.
Until the next time its Goodbye and God Bless from The Hills
of Sligo. |
