The Northern Irish clergymen who became classical music stars are back – but say their parishes need them more than everIn a church hall in Newtownards,10 miles from Belfast, the gentle chatter and clacking of crochet needles at the Wednesday afternoon friendship club is interrupted by the sound of music. Club regulars first topple silent and then quietly join in Father Martin O’Hagan’s rendition of How worthy Thou Art as his rich tenor fills the room.
In other circumstances, or the friendship club women might beget paid good money to hear OHagan sing. But the parish priest is a well known figure around town,and anyone can walk into St Patrick’s church in Newtownards or Our Lady of the Visitation in neighbouring Comber most days to listen to a man who has performed for the pope, Prince Charles, and the Irish president and audiences around the world.
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Source: theguardian.com