Waterford's Barrack Street Concert Band celebrates 155 years
Pictured at City Hall where Mayor of Waterford City & County Cllr Seamus Ryan held a Mayoral Reception for the Barrack Street Concert Band. Photos: Joe Evans
The Barrack Street Concert Band were formally honoured at City Hall last week. Mayor of Waterford City and County Council Seamus Ryan welcomed the band for an official reception inside the Mayoral Parlour.
Local councillor Donal Barry and playwright Jim Nolan were in attendance. Mayor Ryan shared some warm words for the concert band and their many years of musical service to Waterford.
He said: "Few groups can lay claim to such a distinguished and unbroken tradition of music. Since the band’s founding in May 1870 at Mount Sion Christian Brothers School, the group has been at the very heart of Waterford’s cultural and musical life. From its first performance at the May Processional, through countless civic and community occasions, the Barrack Street Band has contributed to the soundtrack to Waterford’s history."
He continued: "Think for a minute of what those 155 years represent. The band has carried on through two World Wars, a Civil War, and even the challenges of a global pandemic. Through times of celebration and times of hardship, your music has been a constant - lifting spirits, bringing people together, and expressing something deep and enduring about our community."
Mayor Ryan described how the Barrack Street Band evolved and developed throughout their many years of performance.
Over the decades the band has evolved, from the “Amateur Band” of Mr Tiffin to the Brass and Reed ensemble of the late 19th century, to the Concert Band we know today, enriched with flutes, saxophones, oboe and percussion. This evolution has not only sustained the band but allowed it to flourish and grow. And that growth in membership and variety of instrumentation has opened the world of music to generations of young people in Waterford, giving them discipline and joy, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts."
Over the years, Barrack Street Concert Band have accrued multiple prestigious awards for their work.
Mayor Ryan said: "The accolades are many. Victories at the All-Ireland Senior Military Band Championships in 1994 and the South of Ireland Championships in 2004 are shining examples. But the greater achievement is the legacy. A living tradition of music-making, passed from one generation to the next, rooted in pride of place and community spirit.
"That’s why today, as Mayor, I want to extend the gratitude of the people of Waterford. To the current musical director, Mr Mark Fitzgerald, to past leaders such as Niall O’Connor, and to all band members, past and present - thank you. Your dedication ensures that this city does not just remember its history but continues to sing it."
He ended: "May the Barrack Street Concert Band go on to inspire for another 155 years, bringing the joy of music and entertainment to our streets, our homes, and our hearts."
