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The Artane Band is coming to Tralee this Saturday.
THE world-famous Artane Band, formerly the Artane Boys’ Band, familiar to generations of GAA fans the world over from their regular pre-match and interval performances at Croke Park, will shortly visit Kerry for the first time in forty years as guests of Kerry School of Music to play a very special joint concert in St. John’s Church, Castle Street, Tralee on Saturday, April 22nd at 7.30pm.
Later in the year, the School of Music will travel to Dublin for the return leg of the exchange. The Artane Band was founded in 1871 – a time of great political upheaval in Ireland – and within a short number of years became a byword for musical excellence and social empowerment in inner city Dublin.
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The founding of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884 led immediately to a unique and special relationship which endures to this day. The band celebrated its 150th birthday in 2022 – a year later than intended due to the onset of the pandemic.
“I had the privilege of hearing the band in concert a week ago at the Helix in DCU. I was there at their invitation,” says Kerry School of Music Director Aidan O’ Carroll.
“I have to admit that I was completely blown away. My only previous experience of the band was seeing and hearing them marching and playing before or during games in Croke Park, more often than not being completely drowned out by the deafening roar of the partisan fans. In the Helix I heard something completely different, something both deeply moving and exhilarating – a suave, sophisticated band of some fifty wind and percussion musicians capable of producing an incredibly nuanced but powerful sound and utterly responsive to their brilliant director Ronan O’ Reilly. This is the Artane Band that I want people to hear in St. John’s on April 22nd,” says Aidan.
A wonderful and varied programme is being promised ranging from an exquisite and tender arrangement of the Sally Gardens to an ABBA medley, arrangements of Disney movie themes, sounds of the 70s and pieces specially arranged for the band by former members.
Kerry School of Music Senior Orchestra, Flute Choir and Kerry Chamber Choir will also be on hand to perform a short welcoming programme under the direction of Aidan O’ Carroll.
Tickets at €19/€17 (family concession are also available) can be got directly from the Kerry School of Music on 066-7125690. A limited number of reduced-price tickets can also be secured from St. John’s Parish Centre.
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