Army Band help budding Clonmel musicians celebrate special anniversary

Music and celebration were the order of the day in Ss Peter and Paul’s school on Friday, April 21 with a visit from the Army Band to mark the 30th anniversary of the school band.

The Band 1 Brigade was conducted by musical director Capt Fergal Carroll from Clonmel.
The band’s programme was carefully selected to appeal to the students and included familiar tunes like Blinding Lights, Shotgun and YMCA as well as the Mario theme tune.

There were familiar faces in the Army Band including trumpet player Cpl Emmett Donlon, a past member of both the school band and choir, Cpl Keith Greene who performed a piccolo solo on the day and clarinet player Cpl Eva Collins (Power) from Carrick-on Suir.

MEMBERS
All three are past members of Banna Chluain Meala and credit the youth band for their love of music.
Cpl Niall Kelly who played with the Artane Band and is now settled in Clonmel was also performing and wowed younger members of the audience with the Mario theme tune.

Current Banna members Alice Sweeney, Owen Quigley, Deirdre Harpur and Nicole Littleton, some of whom completed their TY work experience with the Army Band in Cork, also performed on the day.

Banna committee members Danny Carroll, Tony O’Keeffe, Michael Kiely and Michael O’Gorman were there to enjoy the performance.
In addition to parents and family members of the school and band musicians the hall was full to capacity with younger pupils from the school.

Adults really enjoyed watching the youngest pupils engaging with the music.
The highlight of the day was the joint performance of four pieces at the end of the programme.
The 4th class Junior Band members thoroughly enjoyed their first ever recital on such a prestigious occasion.

Senior band (5th/6th) members played with confidence and maturity way beyond their years and impressed all with their proficiency.

Musical Director Yvonne Moran and conductor/instructor Peter Taylor were very proud of the band’s performance and acknowledged the contribution of staff members Simon Power and Lucy Kennedy.

Ss Peter and Paul’s School Band has for many years been recognised as a feeder for Banna Chluain Meala.
Fergal Carroll remarked on how unusual it is for a primary school to have a brass and reed band and the achievement of sustaining it for 30 years.

YVONNE MORAN
He attributed the success and longevity of the band to Principal Yvonne Moran.
The school is very grateful to Fergal for facilitating the event which provided enormous educational benefits for all its pupils.

Staff and pupils were buzzing after the event and attention is now turning to the official 30th Anniversary Concert in Ss Peter and Paul’s Church at 7:30pm on May 12 with the Clonmel Concert Band.
You don’t want to miss it.