NARRAGHMORE BAND FOR BIG APPLE

LEINSTER LEADER MARCH 11 1989

NARRAGHMORE BAND FOR BIG APPLE

A period of Irish history remembered for its turbulence succeeded in bringing one lasting asset to the Co. Kildare village of Narraghmore, the Pipe Band, about to take off for the US for a really exciting St. Patrick’s Day celebration was formed back in 1916.   One man who knows the full history is Jack O’Connor, involved with the band for the past 40 years.  According to Jack, the band (first known as the Kilrush Band) was formed at Flanagan’s barn, at Seven Sisters, on the Kilcullen-Athy road.  All of those initially involved were in the volunteer force of the day, but apparently they spent a lot of time hanging around that barn, waiting for orders.  “They had time on their hands, waiting for news, and they decided to form the band; eventually the band was really used for the purpose of meetings”.

No doubt those involved in 1916 would have it hard to believe that the band would survive for so long and its members (in some cases descendents of the founders) would bring the sound of the pipes and drums into an Ireland which has changed so much the idea of flying off to the US just to play in a St. Patrick’s Day parade would have been literally impossible back then, but it’s a high prospect which the current band members really relish.

This is not the first time for the Narraghmore Pipe Band (the name, incidentally, was changed over 40 years ago, when a band hall was purchased in Narraghmore village) to go abroad.  Over the years, there have been trips to Germany, England and Wales, to compete in folk festivals, as well as visits to the Cowal Games in Scotland.

While the current members prepare for their big moment in March, some of the older folk recently had a get-together to mark the retirement of John “Ginger” Kenny, a band member since 1923.  Jack O’ Connor explained; “John was retiring from work so we held a party at Kelly’s here in Narraghmore and got a lot of his old companions from the band together”.  Some of the names will be well known to local people, as they include members of the O’Toole family – there were O’Tooles in at the start of the band, in 1916; John Noud, another of the founder members, as were Jim Dempsey and Jimmy Doyle.  Family traditions are strong in the band, and Jack commented that current prominent members, Billy and Anthony Donovan are nephews of “Ginger” Kenny, while Jack himself joined the band in the footsteps of his late father.  “At one stage, my three brothers (Rob, Andy and the late Jim) were involved with myself)”.

Other well-known side drummers in those by-gone days were the late Tommy Hanlon and his brother Johnny.  They played in the band up to the 50s.  The late Paddy (Buck) Nolan also played for a few years.  Paddy was a well known side drummer.  When the band joined the IPBA their first contest was in Howth in a miniature band contest (3 drummers and 4 pipers).  They won first prize 30 years ago.  The band members that day were James Neary and Bob O’Connor, Drum Sergt. on drums, Ned Byrne; bass drum, Billy Donovan, Andy O’Connor, Jack O’Connor; plm, Tim Keogh.  They competed in the world championships in Belfast in 1962 and were placed seventh in their grade on that day.  One hundred bands competed on that day.

Even the scattering of the population from Narraghmore and the surrounding townslands did not succeed in breaking up the band.  A couple of Dublin sounding accents can be heard among the younger members but if you dare to question them they can trot out the local family pedigree at top speed.  The band currently numbers around 19 members, three of them women, and Jack was proud to proclaim that the Narraghmore pipe band was among the first in the country to include female members.

The bands very first public appearance was in 1918, at a sports day in Kildoon, and the fixtures attended by the band, be they sporting or social, have not changed a great deal since then.  In addition to the adult band members spending a couple of hours rehearsing each Tuesday night, there are also classes for youngsters interested in music – a factor which will no doubt ensure the continuation of the pipe band tradition in Narraghmore.  The children start off using a “practice chanter” – a small pipe like a tin whistle, and progress from there.  Instruments and uniforms for the band are extremely expensive items.  A set of pipes cost £7-1800 and even the special brogue shoes cost around £45 a pair.  Drums are not so expensive, but they need to be changed every five years or so.  “A few years back, we were playing for a Co. Final in Newbridge and we decided to estimate what we were “worth” on the day.  We realised that between the instruments and uniforms, it was around £20,000!”

Flag days and social functions, as well as payment for some fixtures, keep the band in funds and there will be a fundraising night out at Kellys, Narraghmore, on March 3, prior to the departure for the States on March 9.  All members – young and not so young – will be travelling at the invitation of a Long Island based band which visited Kildare last year.  The Narraghmore Band members entertained the group, called the “Saffron Kilts”, whose members are of Irish descent.  The result was the invitation back to New York for St. Patrick’s Day this year.   There will be a number of engagements during the trip, including two parades at West Hampton and Islip, Long Island, a visit to Boston for another parade and for the really big moment – the Fifth Avenue parade on St. Patrick’s Day in New York.

While those involved are looking forward to the prospect of taking a fortnight-long bite at the Big Apple, a lot of work will go into getting the trip organised.  Much of the work will fall on pipe major, Martin Dempsey, pipe instructor, Gerry Malone, and drum instructor, John Byrne, along with the committee members – President, John Kenny, Chairman, Tony Donovan; Secretary, Owen Donovan and members, Jack O’Connor, Eddie Wright, Ned Byrne, Mick O’Brien, John Moloughney and Catherine Clarke.

On St. Patrick’s Day (especially in New York) every Irish tune in the book gets trotted out……like, “It’s A Long Way To Tipperary”.  Having heard the history of the Narraghmore Pipe Band, one might also reflect that it’s a long way from Flanagan’s Barn to Fifth Avenue.

(A ‘photo accompanies this original extract with the words “Narraghmore Pipe Band in rehearsal for their forthcoming trip to the U.S. for St. Patrick’s Day.)

Re-typed by Mary Murphy