Gardaí yesterday recovered most of the passports stolen at the weekend from a young German choir on a two-week tour of Ireland.
Two passports belonging to members of the Munich Boys and Girls Choir are still missing, as well as a number of important musical scores. The items were taken from a van transporting the choir on their Irish tour while it was parked in Charlestown, Co Mayo, on Saturday night or Sunday morning.
When the 39-strong choir arrived at their vehicle on Sunday morning to travel to Swinford church for a singing engagement, they found the vehicle had been robbed. A laptop, a camcorder and some CDs were also stolen.
Later on Sunday, a suitcase containing all but two of the missing passports was found by gardaí during a search in the Charlestown area. There were no arrests.
The parish priest of Charlestown, Fr Tommy Johnston, said yesterday that he regretted the break-in but was glad that most of the passports had been found.
The choir, which has been compared to the Vienna Boys Choir, had been staying with parishioners, Fr Johnston said.
The choir was formed in 1952 and specialises in Gregorian works, spiritual, German and international folk songs. It arrived in Longford yesterday for a performance in St Mel's Cathedral today.
Organist Manfred Taitsch said yesterday that two members of the choir would have to get replacement passports before returning home. "It has all been very upsetting for us. Some of the scores are original and handwritten and are a great loss, but hopefully they will yet be recovered as they are of no value to an ordinary individual," Mr Taitsch stated.
The choir, who are described on their website as "the singing ambassadors of Munich, Bavaria and Germany", will also perform in Cavan, Monaghan, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, and Tullamore, Co Offaly, before finishing their tour.