Highlights
The society really came into its own in 1984, the centenary year
of the tenor's birth. Liam Breen recalled that they began planning late in the
year 1983 and decided to book the National concert Hall.
We took a risk in booking the hall for a full
week's events but we felt that the centenary should be celebrated in style.
I remember going to London to meet agents and engaged tenors Dennis O'Neill
and Stuart Burrowes. Robert White agreed to come from America for one of our
concerts. Not only was the week a great success but it helped to clear the society's
debts. We had packed attendances almost every night and managed to put the name
of John McCormack firmly in the news again.
The 1984 centenary celebrations did prove an important milestone, especially
in the fresh assessment made of the tenor,s worth and what a new generation
of Irish singers could learn from his achievements, and it did help to keep
his legend alive.