Trip To Ireland
May 2007
It started, as many of the best ideas do, out of a discussion in the pub after band practice. ‘Let’s do a band tour.The choice of destination came fairly easily. We wanted somewhere that we could get to by coach, generally spoke English and had good beer. We chose Ireland. Ireland had another attraction. Two members of the band had a former bandmaster who had recently moved to Ireland and was interested in setting up a Brass ensemble over there. We hoped to raise local awareness of the Brass Band movement and, hopefully, some money towards their first instruments.
After a years' organisation the departure day dawned and 28 players and friends set off from Basingstoke. The coach driver was new to this kind of job and his face fell as he saw the tubas. We explained that they were essential.
Our destination was the town of Carlow. Where we stayed at the Seven Oaks Hotel – Irish hospitality at its best! They looked after us very well and the breakfasts were fabulous - just what a hungry band needs.
We had arranged various activities while we were in the Carlow area, some band related and some more social.
We started by playing for the Sunday morning service at the Carlow Methodist church. We played a number of hymns and appropriate tunes and our part in the service was much appreciated by the vicar and congregation. Afterwards we were able to socialise with the congregation over tea and biscuits and everyone was very interested in our band.
In the afternoon some of us went for a cultural visit to the Browns Hill Dolomen which is a local pre-historic site. The rest either walked around Carlow or just relaxed. I don't recall any reports of people practising.
In the evening we gave a concert at the Lord Bagnal Hotel in Leighlinbridge, which is just a few miles away from Carlow. A local Irish Dancing school provided a contrast to the brass band music with dancing displays by some very young dancers. The concert programme included such brass band favourites as: Colonel Bogey and English Folk Song Suite, along with some newer music such as the brass band arrangement of the Toccata from Suite Gothique. T he highlights were probably our two young soloists, both 13, David who played "The Acrobat" on Trombone and John who played "High on a Hill" on cornet. The audience was enthusiastic and we felt that we built a good rapport with them. The proceeds of the evening went to the fund to set up a brass ensemble. A great deal of interest was expressed by the audience in this project.
On the Monday we travelled to Kilkenny. In the morning we took a tour of the medieval town. (It started a bit late but by this time we had become accustomed to Irish time!).
In the afternoon we played in the grounds of Kilkenny castle. It is a beautiful castle and it was a real experience playing there. Unfortunately it poured with rain! We are, however, a band used to such things, and the moment there was a break in the clouds we had the chairs out and stands up. We played a selection of typical light music including pieces such as the Floral Dance (no link whatsoever with any Irish Radio Broadcaster…) and the theme to Dances with Wolves. Despite the inclement weather there were quite a few people who stopped to listen to us. The rain pretty well held off until we had finished.
On Tuesday, back in Carlow, we had one last visit organised. One the pre-requisites for the trip had been decent beer and Carlow has a Microbrewery! We had a brief tour of the Carlow Brewing Company and then a ‘few’ tasters (playing a brass instrument is thirsty work!). They make three types of beer, a wheat, a red and a stout. They were all excellent and yes, I can organise a booze-up in a brewery!
On Wednesday morning we loaded up the bus to go home. We found places for all the instruments which seemed to have increased in number - not to mention quite a few crates from the Carlow Brewing Company.
Helen Malone