For the members of Maghery Band Academy, St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally one of the busiest days of their year.
Their day begins with their annual performance at St Patrick’s Church at Meenacross at 9.30am.
Then it’s on to Dungloe for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in the afternoon before they return to Maghery with another performance later in the evening.
This weekend however, will be even busier than normal with the band members, committee and supporters making the trip to Limerick for the International Band Championships.
It’s the 51st staging of an event that attracts bands from all over Ireland, Europe and the US.
The Maghery Band previously attended the championships in 2014, ‘15 and ‘16 and won the Best Youth Band International title each year – a memorable hat-trick of victories which brought them international recognition.
After being put on hold for two years because of Covid-19, the championships had 15 bands return to compete in 2022.
This year Maghery will be among 20 bands competing for an array of titles, the top title being International Champions.
Maghery Band regard themselves as very fortunate to be returning to the competition. The band members only began practicing again in February 2022 after being forced to stop meeting as a band back in March 2020.
Maghery Band Academy
Maghery celebrated their 6th consecutive All-Ireland win in August 2022 and are thankful to the members and committee who have continued to assist them in their classes so they can undertake new public performances.
Prior to Covid-19, the academy had a 5 year programme in place to develop new beginners for junior competition.
Maghery were fortunate that a majority of original members returned post Covid but having lost many budding members due to the break had to amalgamate their remaining junior band members.
A new wave of recruits then signed up at the start of 2022 and the academy was able to continue attending different events, including Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann last August in Mullingar.
In recent years the academy has started to develop some new traditions and returning to the Limerick International Championship is one such tradition that has given the band great focus to work towards.
The team effort that is involved also develops camaraderie.
In 2019 the band undertook their most eventful schedule to date when they travelled to perform in an East Coast USA tour in New York, New Jersey and Florida. That same year saw them win a hat-trick title at Dungloe’s Easter Competition; they won their 5th All-Ireland title in Drogheda; headlined at the Belfast International Tattoo in the SSE Arena, Belfast; and they released an album on CD of their music collection.
In some ways the break that occurred in 2020 was a welcome rest for the band and its organisers but the time away made them realize and appreciate all the more how special the memories and opportunities they had before them were.
The academy would like to welcome any interested youth and adults who would be interested in joining, whether that be in the capacity of a performing member, organiser or interested supporter.
For more information see their social media on Facebook and Instagram @magheryband or contact them on magheryband@gmail.com or 0879247837.
The band would also like to wish the Meenacross Band a happy anniversary as they celebrate their 150th year this year. Meenacross are one of the oldest running fife bands in the Rosses.
