Baritone, age 86, makes debut

A CHRISTMAS album featuring the debut of an 86-year-old Cork baritone has been released.

Gerald Moloney was born in 1920 and inherited his singing talent from his father, Richard, a very popular baritone who performed regularly in Cork Opera House in the 1930s.

However, Richard was cut down in his prime and died tragically from stomach ulcers in the 1940s.

And although Gerald was the only child to inherit his father’s singing talent, he never pursued a musical career — until now.

Gerald is the featured artist on the new album by award-winning choral group, the Crosshaven Singers. Gerald, backed by the choral group, sings on numerous tracks on the Snow On the First Christmas Eve album.

But he is the solo artist on track two, Crosshaven in the Good Old Days, which was penned by local song writer, Peter Dunphy.

The song was inspired by Gerald’s childhood summer holidays in Fountainstown.

The choir, under the musical direction of Gerald O’Connell, recorded the album over several weeks at composer Brian O’Reilly’s Fiona International Studios in Fermoy.

Gerald emigrated to London in the late 1930s where he met his wife, Sylvia.

The couple returned to Ireland in the early 1960s and Gerald started work as an electrician in Irish Steel. Gerald and Sylvia live in Crosshaven.