Count John McCormack lived in Moore Abbey House in
Monasterevin from 1925 to 1939. He was a world famous singer. He had a lovely
deep tenor voice. He was famous in London and New York. In 1932, he
sang "Panis Angelicus" at the Dublin Eucharistic Congress with a choir
of 500 behind him. It was broadcast all over Ireland and England on the radio.
He became an early pioneer in radio
broadcasting and he was very comfortable in the medium. He broadcast on both
sides of the Atlantic up until 1942. On radio he
appeared on his own programmes as well as a guest on programmes starring Bing
Crosby and Rudy Vallee. It brought his voice to millions; not just hundreds or
thousands as in the past with recitals and records.
Despite his international celebrity John
never forgot Ireland and bought a home and estate in Monasterevin, Co
Kildare.
His Grand Piano is still to be seen in
Moore Abbey House.