Westport organist honoured

Westport organist honoured by Council


Edwin McGreal

After over 50 years of service as an organist at St Mary’s Church in Westport, Gabriel Kelly was honoured with a Civic Reception from Westport Town Council last Friday.
Mr Kelly was appointed as the bell ringer, assistant organist and sacristan in 1959 before being appointed as the principal organist in St Mary’s in 1976.
Leading the tributes, Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, Cllr Myles Staunton, praised Gabriel Kelly’s high standards.
“He has always acted very professionally and demanded and indeed received very high standards from the choir members which I have no doubt all members over the years will attest to.
“In many ways, he has been present for the ultimate highs and the ultimate lows of important family occasions for the people of Westport over so many years and I am delighted with the other members of the Council, to recognise his contribution to music and to the community.  He has seen a lot of priests come and go but he has been ever present.”
At the civic reception, Councillor Staunton quoted the American author Connie Willis which he quipped might give a good insight into the workings of a choir.
“The entire range of human experience is present in a church choir, including, but not restricted to jealousy, revenge, horror, pride, incompetence (the tenors have never been on the right note in the entire history of church choirs, and the basses have never been on the right page), wrath and existential despair.”
Hailing from a well-known musical family, Gabriel Kelly traced his training at the reception. He decided at a young age to learn the organ and studied under Sr Brendan Gill, among others and was assistant organist under Ms Ena Eaton before taking on the mantle in 1976.
As well as serving in St Mary’s Church, Gabriel Kelly could be considered a ecumenist before his time, playing in the Holy Trinity Church of Ireland for many years as well.
The civic reception was also addressed by Fr Francis Mitchell and the Rev Val Rogers.
The St Mary’s Choir was in attendance at the reception and performed at the conclusion of the speeches.