Irish Association Of Barbershop Singers 24th Annual Convention
Theatre Royal, Waterford
Friday 4th - Sunday 6th October 2013
Ireland, My Ireland, I’m Longing For You . . . The Rivertones’ reflections of the 24th Annual Irish Convention . . . and a week in the wonderful Emerald Isle
DAY 1
Early morning travel by coach from Taunton to Pembroke for ferry to Rosslare (despite several hours closure of the M5 in both directions at Clevedon, preventing us from taking the direct route). Treated ourselves (and maybe others?) to a short sing at Camarthen Services and also on board the ferry on route. Arrive early evening at Tramore for our week’s stay at the very comfortable and hospitable O’Shea’s Hotel (same proprietors for 45 years). Nice evening meal and of course a second or third pint of Guinness – following the first on the boat!
DAY 2
Full Irish breakfast followed by a mid morning rehearsal and a very pleasant day – albeit in the drizzle – exploring Tramore and it’s beautiful sandy beaches. Early evening meal followed by warm up and a hotel sing (and maybe a pint of Guinness!).It was also a special day today for our Chorus Director Peter Gover – it was his birthday! – and the hotel provided a fully candlelit surprise birthday cake on behalf of the chorus and their ladies.
DAY 3
Early morning coach to Theatre Royal, Waterford for 10-minute on-stage familiarisation followed by arranged visit to Waterford Crystal HQ opposite theatre. Return to Tramore for a free afternoon plus chorus rehearsal. Early evening meal before return to Waterford for Joan Kelly Memorial Show – a mix of fun and serious entertainment – featuring acts from Ireland, Norway, Holland, Cincinatti (Southern Gateway) and the UK (Red Rock Harmony and Cambridge Chord Company) and also including quartets from the UK (The Mix) and USA (Old School). Return to O’Shea’s for one pint of Guinness (Convention next day!).
DAY 4
Leisurely breakfast and coach back to Waterford following final chorus rehearsal for arranged short singout at Waterford Crystal’s huge Visitor Centre. Flash mob ‘Catch A Falling Star’ appearance in our DJ’s, white shirts and red accessories, followed by one of our very best performances to date of ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ (taking care that our Chorus Director Peter Gover didn’t fling his arms about too much with all those crystal displays costing megabucks, around!) Rapturous applause and incredible camera-flashing, hand shaking experience following the excellent singing and brilliant accoustics. Most memorable part of our week without a doubt.
Then across the road for our 30-minute gradual approach to getting on stage via walkways, stairs up, closed dressing rooms and then stairs down to our big moment. Unfortunately our time on stage came and went much faster than we had planned resulting in some hurried and ‘less than pleasant’ sounds – one of our worst performances for some time! How disappointing, we are so much better than that. We have improved our general chorus singing in recent weeks and months at the same time as taking on several new members from a Learn To Sing course last year. Only a couple of hours earlier we had produced some of our best singing back at the hotel. What is it about performing on stage, where do we go so wrong?
Yes, the company in the International Chorus Competition was extremely strong, some of the best medal-winning choruses out there, male and female, representing their countries. In fact we could only hope at the very best that we might be either last or perhaps with the standard of our better recent performances, one from last. Never mind, although last – and bitterly disappointed that we didn’t show everyone that we really are a decent chorus – we can now honestly say that we were third of all the male choruses in an international competition and eighth overall in an international competition. Our best position ever for The Rivertones from Taunton in little ol’ Somerset in the UK!!!
Early evening soon arrived and it was off to the Gala Concert featuring guest quartets and the Gold and Silver medal winners of the Convention followed by a trip to the massive Tower Hotel, along the quayside in Waterford, for the Afterglow. Mainly ladies’ choruses present in the huge room set aside for the main sing but we can honestly say that as a male chorus, we stole all of the thunder by performing in our blue walk-out shirts to the whole room from a corner vantage point, singing some popular songs including ‘Hello Mary Lou’ and Amarillo’. Fantastic – everyone enjoying the refreshing sound of a bunch of ‘old’ boys from Somerset and joining in with full enthusiasm and excitement! The second most memorable part of our week, without doubt. Only time for the one Guinness before the coach back to Tramore (and possibly another Guinness!).
DAY 5
Judges’ evaluation session (followed by our own ‘inquest’ later!) of our performance and a Masterclass by the excellent quartet from USA ‘Old School’. Free afternoon in Tramore to get over the shock! Evening drive to the famous Marine Bar at Pulla, near Dungarvan for an arranged singout and some Irish music (and another pint of Guinness!).
DAY 6
Off to Cobh (pronounced Cove, and last departure point for the Titanic) for a short flash mob sing to the public on the station followed by a moving visit to the Heritage Centre where we witness the re-enactment of the stories behind so-called coffin ships and the mass emigration to America. The stories behind the Titanic, Lusitania etc. are also explained in detail. Then on to Blarney for the Castle and the Blarney Stone, the huge Woollen Mills retail store and a pre-arranged evening meal (and a Guinness!) and advertised sing at the Blarney Castle Hotel.
Day 7
Following another hearty Irish breakfast, an arranged sing to all the O’Shea’s staff and a lovely Irish farewell song from the landlord of a local pub up the road, we travel mid morning along the ‘Copper Coast’ to Dungarvan where we have yet another pre-arranged sing in the main shopping Mall in the town and a chance for a stroll along the waterfront and town and a pint of Guinness. Back on the coach at teatime for our evening meal in Tramore (and one more pint of Guinness!)
Day 8
We leave by coach for Rosslare at 6am in order to catch an early ferry, but not before the wonderful lady who owns the hotel got up herself at 4am along with another member of staff, to prepare us bread, ham, cheese, yoghurts, cereals, toast and tea/coffee. She even provided foil to allow us to make and wrap ourselves some sandwiches for the journey home. Wonderful Mine Hosts skills provided throughout our visit by all of O’Shea’s staff. It was just like it was ‘our’ hotel. Arrive back in Taunton at teatime. Funny, there was not so much singing on the way back (nor as much Guinness!) . . .