From Medellín, Colombia to Mullingar Arts Centre

It was December 2019 when Rebecca Winckworth last performed a sold out Christmas concert in Mullingar and little did she know how life would change so much for her just a few months later.

Rebecca has strong family links to Mullingar through her father Peter and her late grandparents, Dr Trevor and Olive Winckworth, headed off to Argentina to perform at the behest of The Irish Embassy in Buenos Aires for St Patrick’s Day 2020, and after that decided to travel to Colombia as a tourist.

The Covid pandemic hit and Rebecca was under strict lockdown in her high rise apartment block.

No amount of WhatsApp messages to her family and close friends could assist in alleviating the boredom and loneliness, so what could she do?

What she did started with a simple rendition of ‘Danny Boy’ one evening from her balcony.

The word quickly went out and local service personnel and police, who were allowed on the streets, began to gather each evening, along with residents of surrounding high rise apartments out on their balconies – all waiting for 8pm in anticipation.

Rebecca sang one song per night, and for the three months, thousands watched, and banged dustbin lids in applause.

Colombian National TV got hold of the story and soon Rebecca became a national treasure in the city of Medellín.

Thankfully, the pandemic restrictions lifted, Rebecca fell in love with the city and has remained there since, and has been performing with The Colombian National Symphony Orchestra as an invited guest.

Further musical involvement included performing as lead character and vocalist in Dapinty, an animated TV Series nominated for an International Emmy Award.

Quickly mastering Spanish allowed further musical engagements for Rebecca all over South America.

She has written several songs based on her experiences travelling worldwide, and is now delighted to return to Mullingar Arts Centre on 15 December to perform a Christmas special along with The O’Neill Sisters, who have travelled the world as performers.

From County Kerry, the sisters are delighted to be joined on stage by the Mullingar Sweet Tunes Choir.

The show is called An Enchanted Christmas and it’s on Tuesday 15 December; tickets are available at mullingarartscentre.ie.

As many did for Rebecca’s last home concert, people are encouraged to use this beautiful nostalgic evening as a company or family Christmas night out and enjoy four beautiful voices all in one concert.