Looking Back on the 2025 Alexandria A Cappella Collective Trip to Ireland
Galway: Arrival and First Concert
After much anticipation, the AACC tour of Ireland began on Tuesday, August 5th under cool, clear skies. Two buses whisked us from Dublin Airport across the emerald fields to Galway, where a brief walking tour revealed colorful shops, medieval streets, and the lively Latin Quarter. That evening, we settled into two adjacent hotels.
The next morning, we toured Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, wandering its walled gardens and admiring Victorian architecture. Back in Galway, many enjoyed a few hours of free time—strolling the quay, sampling local treats, or simply soaking up the atmosphere—before preparing for our first concert.
On Wednesday evening, St. Nicholas Church—its founding dating to the 14th century—hosted a standing-room-only audience. The program featured:
- Metro Voices
- The Harmonizers
- The Collective
- Tone Cold Sober (Irish Barbershop Chorus)
After receiving a standing ovation at the end of the concert , we returned to the Salthill hotel lounge where an afterglow with singing and libations continued with members of Tone Cold Sober into the night.
Cork: Cliffs, Castles, and a Second Ovation
Thursday morning, our base shifted to Cork in southern Ireland. As we headed south we stopped at the legendary Cliffs of Moher. We were fortunate: clear skies and brisk winds allowed a clear view of the sheer cliffs plunging into the Atlantic.
The next day, we drove the scenic Ring of Kerry and experienced a jaunting-car ride from downtown Killarney to Ross Castle. That evening at St. Peter’s Church in Bandon (mid-19th century), we shared the stage with:
- Munster Mix
- Champaign Cork
- East Cork Barbershoppers
- Kinsale Voices (non-barbershop choir)
Yet again, heartfelt applause turned into a standing ovation. Finger sandwiches, tea, and desserts awaited us and the audience after the performance.
Dublin Bound: Blarney Castle to IIMS Show
Saturday dawned early for a trip to Blarney Castle. We explored ramparts and gardens, kissed the Blarney Stone, and browsed the vast Irish store housed in an old woolen mill. While we were at Blarney Castle, Samantha, Renee and Steve Tramack, along with Tony Colosimo and Joe Cerutti, sped ahead by van to the Irish Institute of Music and Song (IIMS) where they coached several quartets and choruses.
When our buses arrived at IIMS, family members, Irish Barbershoppers and the AACC gathered in the Lark Theater where CEO Michael Dawson taught us an Irish song. Dinner plans unraveled when a short-staffed restaurant had another group unexpectedly arrive, delaying the meal until the concert next door had begun. Thanks to groups like Lady Barbalade, Blingmasters, and Harmony Federation filling the first half, we still enjoyed the meal and were ready to perform the second half of the concert. Once more, a standing ovation honored our performance. An afterglow at IIMS lasted past midnight, with a bus procured specifically for the afterglow shuttling early birds and night owls back to the hotel by 1:30 a.m.
Dublin Highlights and Farewell Dinner
With concerts complete, Sunday and Monday offered sightseeing in Dublin. Our group split time among:
- Book of Kells and Trinity College Library
- Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough Monastery
- Dublin Castle, Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery
- St. Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedrals
Monday night, we gathered at the Merry Ploughboy pub for a final dinner. Musicians own the place, and after their spirited set of Irish tunes and dance, they invited us to sing for them . We, of course, sang “Parting Glass,” and by its final note, tears were spotted in the eyes of several members of the Irish band.
Extensions: Belfast and Beyond
On Tuesday, most returned home, while 23 adventurers continued north to Belfast. A small subset ventured onward to Scotland on a self-styled extension. Highlights of the Belfast extension included:
- Hinch Distillery tour (whiskey and gin production)
- Hillsborough Castle and Gardens (royal residence)
- Titanic Belfast immersive experience
The penultimate day took us through dense fog to the Giant’s Causeway, where 40,000 basalt columns rose from the shore. That evening we closed the tour with a wonderful dinner at the Merchant Hotel. While the extension crew headed to Dublin to return home the next morning, Terry Reynolds and his sister, Karen Worley, extended their journey so they could visit their ancestral home in Northern Ireland.
Reflections
This tour allowed us to view stunning landscapes, historic venues, and experience the warm hospitality of Irish hosts. From packed-house concerts to late-night afterglows, we witnessed barbershop’s power to unite strangers in harmony. As we boarded flights home, our hearts were full of friendships forged, memories, and melodies shared.
Many thanks to Brad Jones for preparing this report of the chapter’s terrific experience in Ireland. He also gets much credit for organizing and coordinating the trip from its concept to getting everyone home.
Until next time – editorjack!
(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record for the great things going on each week during the 77th year of the Alexandria Chapter. - YeEd)
The Chapter Mission Statement: Enriching lives through vocal harmony in the greater DC area.
