Flood-hit town gets back in tune for brass band championships

The largest gathering of brass bands in the country will this weekend raise the spirits of people in a flood-hit town.

A record number of entries has been received for the South of Ireland Band Championships, which has been held annually for 33 years in Clonakilty, West Cork.

Co-ordinator of the event Eileen Kingston said: “More than 1,000 musicians and supporters are coming from all over the country. But all our thoughts are with the businesses and the individuals so badly affected by last week’s flooding.

“We are keenly aware of the continued distress of many businesses and residents. But we hope the event will hope to raise the spirits of locals.

In addition to the competitive element of the event held in the community hall and community college, there will be open-air recitals throughout the town on Saturday.

This year’s event has attracted record entries. The oldest band in Ireland will be among the 24 bands, their families, and supporters who will flock for the competition, traditionally held on the first Saturday of July.

St James’ Brass and Reed Band from Dublin, whose records stretch back to 1737, played at a candlelight procession to welcome home Fenian prisoners in 1877, performed for the 1896 parade for Wolfe Tone and for Douglas Hyde in 1906, as well as at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa in 1915. The oldest member of the band, John Gannon, 94, has played with St James for 78 years.

Clonakilty’s brass band, which won the intermediate category last year, will compete at senior level with a record 10 bands including Dublin Concert band; City of Waterford Brass; Barrack Street, Waterford; Lourdes, Drogheda; Ardee Concert Band; Ennis Brass; Boherbuoy, Limerick; Fermoy Concert; St James’s Dublin, and Arklow Shipping Silver Band.

Dungarvan Brass; St Nicholas, Cork; C J Kickham, Tipperary; St Mary’s Maynooth and James Fitzgerald Memorial Band, Mitchelstown will contest the intermediate section.

Both of those categories will be adjudicated, for a second time in the history of the event, by Yorkshire-born Dennis Wilby. A noted composer and adjudicator, he has a life-long association with brass bands.