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Handel’s Messiah
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The Seafield Singers in association with Laetare Vocal Ensemble present:
HANDEL’S MESSIAH
St. Gabriel’s Church, Dollymount, Dublin 3
Friday, 22nd May 2026 at 7.30pm
Conducted by Elizabeth Hilliard
Soloists: Claudia Boyle, Gemma Ní Bhriain, Rory Lynch and Boyu Liu
The Seafield Singers, who are based on Seafield Road, Clontarf, are delighted to present Handel’s Messiah to mark the connection between the composer and Clontarf.
Handel arrived in Dublin in November 1741 at the invitation of the viceroy, The Duke of Devonshire having written his new oratorio in the previous August. It was a large scale musical composition for orchestra, choir and soloists which dealt with sacred topics based on biblical texts.
13 April,1742 saw the first public performance of Handel’s Messiah in Neal’s Musick Hall, Fishamble Street, Dublin, in the shadows of Christ Church Cathedral. It followed a season of concerts in Dublin towards the end of this year, and into early 1742. These concerts proved phenomenally popular and Handel continued to work in Dublin during the spring of 1742.
While Handel’s Messiah originated from his time in London, it matured and was appreciated in Dublin. Handel wrote the music for Messiah during a frenzied period of inspiration the previous year, in late August and early September, continuing to revise the work prior to its performance in Dublin in 1742. It is said that Handel, writing to the librettist of Messiah, Charles Jennens, during Christmas 1741, noted ‘the politeness of this generous nation cannot be unknown to you’.
Handel himself was residing in a house on the corner of Abbey Street and Liffey Street,and used this premises as a residence and ticket–office. It is said that he spent most of his evenings at Clontarf Castel as the guest of Mrs Dorothea (Dolly) Vernon (c1695 – 1773), whom he had known earlier in Hanover. “Mrs Vernon, a German lady who came over with King George 1, was particularly intimate with him.” (letter written by Dr WC Quin of Dublin, 1788). It is believed Handel composed Forest Music and The Dolly Suite for Dorothea. She is buried in Clontarf Cemetery on Castle Avenue, just beside Clontarf Castle.
Tickets are €25 and are available on Eventbrite or at the door.
With thanks to our sponsors Clontarf Castle and Toyota.