Special Edenderry concert to honour Fr Liam Lawton’s music
A special concert to honour Papal award recipient Fr Liam Lawton will take place in St Mary's Church Edenderry on Sunday, May 24, at 8pm.
The Edenderry-born priest was conferred with one of the highest honours of the Catholic Church for his remarkable contribution to musical liturgy at an appreciation night in Maynooth in February during which he was presented with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award by Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty, on behalf of Pope Leo XIV.
It was also a very poignant evening as Fr Liam has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder known as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) which affects balance, movement and vision.
The Papal award bestowed on Fr Lawton is the highest medal that can be presented by the Catholic Church to clergy, laypeople, or members of religious orders who have dedicated their lives to advancing the church's mission. It is normally bestowed on those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, engaged in charitable works, or contributed significantly to the spiritual life of the community.
On the evening of the Papal Award presentation, many artists and musicians who performed with Fr Liam through the years did so again, including the composer's band who have played with the priest for over 20 years.
In recognition of the support Fr Liam has received from his home parish and town, the same artists and musicians who performed for and with Fr Liam during the appreciation night in February have confirmed their appearance at the special concert event in Edenderry.
Among those who performed the compositions of the Edenderry priest in Maynooth were former Eurovision Song Contest winner Eimear Quinn, baritone Karl McGuckin, Carlow Cathedral Choir, the Choir of the National Seminary and Fr Liam's long-time musical director and friend, Mark Cahill, while former RTE presenter, Mary Kennedy, acted as MC for the event.
The St Mary'c Church concert will be a celebration of Fr. Liam's much lauded music and song. The Edenderry native is best known for iconic musical compositions such as 'The Cloud's Veil', 'Voice of an Angel' and several mass settings such as his 'Mass of St. Patrick', 'The Glendalough Mass' and 'The Mass of St Brigid', as well as a countless back catalogue of well-known liturgical compositions which have been performed all over the world.
He has recorded 20 musical collections, a number of which have achieved platinum status, and he has performed in venues across the world, including The Vatican, Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall; the Malmo Arena in Sweden and the National Concert Hall in Dublin.
Fr Liam has also recorded a number of TV specials and his works have been narrated by such greats as Gregory Peck, Frank Mc Court, Joan Cusack, John Malkovitch and Mick Lally of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Tickets for the concert, priced €30 each, are available from https://www.edenderryparish.ie/liam-lawton-concert/. There will also be a small number of tickets available from the Edenderry Parish office at 0469733311.
Proceeds raised from the concert will go towards the continued refurbishment of St Mary’s Church.