‘Barracka’ celebrates 175th anniversary

Members of a legendary brass and reed band marched through Cork city yesterday to honour their founder as part of their 175th anniversary celebrations.

The city’s famed Barrack Street Band, which is reputed to be the country’s oldest amateur musical institution in continuous existence, performed for the Lord Mayor at 9.30am Mass at the Lough church.

They then marched down Bandon Road, along Barrack Street past the band-house, and into the city centre where a wreath was laid at the foot of the statue of band’s founder, Fr Theobold Mathew, at the northern end of St Patrick’s Street.