Dedication is obviously not in short supply among the members of the Blahovist choir in Ukraine, who are visiting Sligo this weekend for the town's International Choral Festival. Some 45 choirs from Ireland and abroad are taking part and organisers believe the festival is worth more than £300,000 to the town.
The Ukrainians deserve the award for effort. They made their way to the festival by land, travelling across Europe by bus on a journey that took nine days. Even with their economical approach, they can afford to make the trip only because of a special subsidy from the festival.
Mr John Ryan, a choral enthusiast who founded the festival in 1988, said Ukrainian choirs had become a regular feature, as there was a strong choral tradition in the former Soviet republic.
But the Ukrainians have often been short of cash. On one occasion, Mr Ryan went on a busking tour of churches around the country with a choir. They had decided to spend a week in Ireland before competing in the festival but needed to finance their trip. "We started at evening Mass in Dun Laoghaire when they got off the boat. They sang during the Mass and then gave a concert afterwards and collected about £700. In fact they were so popular the priest asked them to come back the following morning," he says.
There are also choirs from Israel, Sweden and the UK taking part in this year's five-day event, which was officially opened last night by President McAleese.
Ms Anne Hyland, a member of the organising committee, believes the strength of the festival lies in its varied programme - from sacred music and madrigals in St John's Cathedral to a more light-hearted international cabaret and "barbershop" competition. Each choir also likes to adopt a pub in the town, so impromptu performances are common and a festival club is held every night.
Information and tickets can be obtained from the festival office at 071 70733.