Diversity and quality as Clifden tunes up for annual arts festival

A gala concert which sees renowned opera singer Cara O’Sullivan join forces with the Gard Band is among the highlights of this year’s Clifden Arts Festival, which will take place in venues throughout the Connemara town from September 13-24.

The evening of music and song from the Garda Band and Cara O’Sullivan will take place on Friday, September 15, in St Joseph’s Church, starting at 7.30pm, tickets cost €20.

An Garda Síochána was established in 1922 after Ireland had gained independence and the Garda Band came on stream soon after. The group gave its first public performance on Dun Laoghaire Pier on Easter Monday 1923, and made such an impact that it was subsequently invited to play at other functions and events throughout the country.

Under the direction of the first Bandmaster, Superintendent D.J. Delaney, a céilí band, pipe band and dance orchestra were formed from within its ranks. In 1938, the Garda Band amalgamated with the Dublin Metropolitan Garda Band which had been based at Kevin Street and relocated to the Depot at Phoenix Park.

The Garda Band toured the USA and Canada in 1964 under Bandmaster Superintendent J. Moloney. It was disbanded the following year but re-established in 1972 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the foundation of An Garda Síochána. Besides providing superb music for official Garda functions such as graduation ceremonies at the Garda College, the Band has a heavy community-orientated programme, performing at schools, festivals and sporting events throughout the country annually.

The band has a long association with the Rose of Tralee Festival, The St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin and with Lansdowne Road for rugby and soccer internationals. It has travelled to many international events and has represented the country at police festivals and concerts in Switzerland, Germany and Northern Ireland.

Cork’s Cara O’Sullivan, one of Ireland’s finest sopranos, will add an extra-special dimension to the evening.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.