Alvin M. Keeling 
The recent wave of COVID contagion has again hit the local social, music and entertainment scene hard, with the Christmas rate again likely to be a serious victim following this latest spike.
The Drogheda Male Voice Choir has made the heartbreaking decision to cancel this year’s Christmas concert for the second year in a row, which was scheduled to take place at St Mary’s Church on Friday, December 17th.e.
“It was a heartbreaking decision to make on behalf of the choir and all of the performers and musicians who are our friends and who were also eager to do another seasonal concert that we all enjoy so much,” said the choir president. Tommy Finnegan.
“Since we took over singing we’ve been so careful with COVID regulations and really had a blast again. We had several engagements online and completed two when we sang on the Rebecca Storm Show which celebrated the return of entertainment to TLT.We followed up last Wednesday with an appearance on the magnificent tribute to Tommy Leddy Retirement.
“However, we began to realize that the COVID contagion was very serious again and in the interest of the health and safety of our singers, performers, musicians and the general public, we made the heartbreaking decision to stop sing ’til we look at things in the new year.
COVID infection rates in the country have reached their highest levels in nearly a year and health officials are warning the healthcare system is under “inconceivable pressure.”
While the contagion is severe nationwide, according to the latest official figures, Drogheda is the part of the Republic most infected with COVID.
Recently revealed figures indicate that the local electoral area of Drogheda Urban reported 2,415 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a two-week period. Drogheda’s infection rate has more than tripled from three weeks ago, when the region had 691 cases per 100,000.
While neighboring areas of Louth, Meath and Dublin have seen case rates rise in recent weeks, with Drogheda Rural (1,964) Laytown / Bettystown (1897) and Balbriggan (1,717) all among the most infected areas from the country.
The expected return to some sort of (new) normal social and entertainment activity, following the nationwide vaccination process, and the easing of restrictions, suffered a major setback. The current wave of contagion is now reaching a much broader spectrum locally than at any time since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
The Drogheda Male Voice Choir had resumed congregational singing when COVID restrictions were relaxed last October and was training hard and was eager to resume his annual Christmas concert this year, having had to forgo the event last year due to the lockdown. Once again they find themselves victims of the recent wave and last weekend they made the decision to cease all choral activities and postponed the engagements for the rest of the year which unfortunately included their concert. “Christmas at St Mary’s”.
Refunds for tickets sold will apply.
