Munster Council call the tune so band decide to take a walk

Brendan Larkin

However, Gerard Neville, secretary of the Seán Treacy Pipe Band commissioned to play at the venue, is extremely angry at the treatment meted out to him and his colleagues by the Munster Council which ultimately caused the band to walk out of the stadium after playing the National Anthem.

Mr. Neville said the band were asked to move from their designated area in the dug outs by Munster Council secretary, Simon Moroney, as the space was required for players. He indicated there was seating immediately behind the dugout in the Old Stand. As a gesture of co-operation the band went to occupy the seats only to find them full of rain water following a heavy shower. The band then decided to go to the tunnel area but this wasn't permitted due to safety requirements.

Mr. Neville protested on behalf of the band at the treatment they received from the Munster secretary who told him that the dug was now being allocated to the players as they were more important. The band then withdrew outside the tunnel to discuss the situation. They were eventually asked by a Stadium Committee member to at least parade the senior teams and play the National Anthem which they duly did before marching out of the stadium.

In a statement issued on behalf of himself and his colleagues, Mr. Neville said: "in keeping with our band's honour and the honourable history and tradition we proudly represent we agreed to parade the teams and play the anthem. We regret any disappointment to spectators by our absence at half-time. We wish to emphasise that there is no quarrel with the Semple Stadium Committee, but as a band, with a self respect and innate honour that spans 70 years this year, we had no option but to do as we did."

Defending his decision to move the band, Mr. Moroney said that following the heavy shower his first priority was for the welfare of the players and team officials, and he wasn't making any apology for that.

"The tunnel area became very congested with people wanting to get in out of the rain. But I was informed by the gardai that it had to be kept clear in the interests of safety which I totally understood.

"I then said to the band leader would they mind moving and they had no problem with that. But they subsequently came back to the tunnel area only to be told they couldn't stay there.

"The band spokesman then said if they could not stay in the tunnel area they were going home to which I replied: "that is your prerogative". And I added that if they did leave they would not be paid. Unknown to me they had been paid shortly after they had arrived in the stadium.

"I would also like to point out that the Council has in the past subsidised the purchase of rain gear for this particular band.

"Again my first priority is to the players and match officials and people will always be inconvenienced on wet days. The Council has no control over the weather".