CÓRus are looking to bring singing revolution to Ireland
MEMBERS of the community are being invited to sing their way to a happier and healthier 2018 by joining an adult singing group, which holds classes in three locations across South Dublin County.
Established seven years ago, CÓRus welcomes people from all walks of life and of all ages and abilities, with its 800 members including cancer survivors, individuals who suffer from anxiety and depression, people living with dementia and mental health workers.
Founded by Mary Lowe O’Gorman and Yvonne McDonald, CÓRus offers “everyone the opportunity to learn to sing” - and with no soloists in the group, it is “just a chorus of people singing in perfect harmony”.
According to founder Yvonne McDonald: “We’re not a choir, we provide singing classes.
“People don’t have to audition or read music like a lot of choirs expect, that fact helps [people] relax about joining the classes in the first place.
“We’re based in 15 locations in the North and South of Dublin and we’re looking at expanding nationwide… we want to bring about a singing revolution in Ireland.”
She added: “Many of our class members were told they couldn’t sing or were never encouraged in school or at home to sing, so our lessons have helped to bring out confidence that they never knew they had.
“So many have now formed friendships, with busy social lives and holidays booked as a result of joining CÓRus.”
Mary Lowe O’Gorman stresses that they “profoundly” believe that health and wellbeing improves from singing, with members reporting an improvement in mental and physical health as a side effect of their weekly singing classes.
CÓRus has four classes in South Dublin County; Rua Red in Tallaght every Thursday from 7.30pm to 9pm, the Ballyroan Community and Youth Centre every Thursday from 11.30am to 1pm and St Andrew’s National School on the Lucan Road every Wednesday from 7.30pm to 9pm.
For further details on CÓRus, which has a membership, visit www.corus.ie or call their base in the Nutgrove Enterprise Park in Rathfarnham on 087 9676351.
