The following is from http://www.fightingblindness.ie/culwirck.htm
 

One of Ireland's longest established choral groups, the Culwick Choral Society and Atlanta's Michael O'Neal singers, present for one night only 'On Wings of Song' at the National Concert Hall Dublin, on Monday 17^th of July at 8pm. Proceeds from the event will go to Fighting Blindness, the organisation whose purpose is to raise money for research into Blindness.

The event will feature the Irish Premier of Mary McAuliffe's new work Return to Old Ireland'. A must for all choral music lovers, this work was commissioned and first performed by the Michael O'Neal Singers in Atlanta Georgia, on St Patrick's Day of this year to much critical acclaim.

With Special guest soloist Niamh Murray the programme will include popular classics such as, Zodack the Priest, Laudette Dominium, Shenandoah, Oft in the stilly night and many more favourites.

The instrumental accompaniment will include organist, John Dexter and pianist Mairead Hurley, with Colin Block and Michael O'Neal conducting.

Through this event Fighting Blindness hope to raise funds to aid research into degenerative eye conditions at Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork. It is estimated that 200,000 people suffer from various eye diseases in this country alone, of which 65,000 are affected by retinal degenerations.

Retinitis Pigmentosa, Macular Degeneration and Ushers Syndrome, can cause adolescents and young adults lose either central or peripheral vision suddenly or progressively, leading in certain cases, to total blindness and sometimes deafness.

Breakthroughs in genetic research have already been made at Trinity College.

Research is now at a critical juncture and Fighting Blindness requires more and more funding and relies on these events to keep this facility and its vital research programme on going.

Tickets for this musical event are £10 and are available now from the booking office at the National Concert Hall. Tel: 475 1572 or at www.nch.ie .

For information on retinal degenerative conditions, or details of future fundraising initiatives call Fighting Blindness at 855 9330.