Ballyduff Silver Band spend
St Patrick's Weekend in Limerick

Ballyduff Silver Band returned to Limerick over the St Patrick’s weekend to participate in the Limerick International Band Festival. This year had added significance as the band was defending the “Best Overall Band” title from the previous year. The other two awards which they had won, “Best Musical Performance” and “Most Entertaining Band” were also up for grabs.

The band are extremely grateful to Newtownabbey Borough Council for their continued support of this event. Leaving Mossley Mill at 9.45, the first stop was the Red Cow Hotel at Newlands Cross, Dublin for lunch. An uneventful journey, apart from Craig McAlister’s exciting DVD about his favourite flute band, ended with arrival at the Clarion Suites on the Ennis Road just after 4pm.

Already waiting for the band was Mrs Dorothy Cantrell from the Irish Peace Institute who also support the band’s trip to the Festival. A slick check-in meant the rugby followers could suffer the last few minutes of Ireland v England. Wales v France followed, and by this stage a few were feeling a bit peckish. Dinner was served in the Woodfield House. After dinner some retired for the evening, while others stayed a little longer to discuss plans for the next day!

The intention this year was to enter the Recital Competition, but on the Thursday week before the organisers decided not to run this section of the Festival this year. So we were left with the predicament of trying to get some extra players for the parade as well as a drum major. We were able to get a few players but not really enough for a parade style competition.

Fortunately the weather on the morning was favourable, although a little cold. Our driver, Sam, (frae tha “toon”) had already been up to suss out a suitable route and drop off point for the bus. We arrived at the starting point in good time where several bands were already assembled. For some unknown reason American bands seem to enjoy playing early in the morning, and with some of these bands having over 100 players, those with the slightest hint of a sore head suffer, greatly!! 

We had a quick run through our chosen march before we set off. As usual the streets were lined with huge crowds, applauding each band in turn. We reached the adjudication area, and our Drum Major brought the band to a halt. We received the signal to go, and went straight into R B Hall’s “The New Colonial”. This year we just didn’t seem to have the same “oomph” as previous years, very late withdrawals meant we were left looking for percussionists right up until Friday night. Unfortunately we couldn’t find any replacements at such late notice!

The parade ended at Arthur’s Quay, and as each band arrived at this point they were invited to play a short piece. Being third band to arrive, we were serenaded by the Freedom High School Band from Pennsylvania, all 112 of them! They were followed by the CBS Pipe Band from Newcastle West. We gave a spirited rendition of “Bridge Away” which Graham Murray had arranged for the band a few years ago.

Members of Ballyduff Silver Band playing in Limerick 2008

Some returned to the bus while others waited for the results. The awesome Auburn University from Alabama took the “Best Musical Performance” and also “Best Overall Band”, Freedom High School received “Best Uniform and Turn Out” and also “Most Entertaining Band”, with the Sammy Benson Band from Limerick picking up the adjudicator’s “Discretionary Award”. The only award to come North this year was “Best Irish Band”, which was won by the Friendship Band, a composite band made up of players from several bands across the province. No prizes this year for the “Duff”.

We returned to the bus where Dorothy Cantrell commiserated with us. With the weaker band this year we knew we were up against some stiff competition, but we didn’t let ourselves down. Next year?

After dinner there was some legal business to attend to, as well as feeding our equine friend who tends to travel with is everywhere we go. The Ballyduff Mixed Voice Choir (Chorus Master, Mr S Blair) even entertained the locals with a few well known Irish melodies and a few from the USA.

Departure on Monday was at 10.30 with lunch booked at the Red Cow, we made good time and were back at Mossley Mill at 16.30. 

A big thanks again to Cathy Cole, from Newtownabbey Borough Council and Mrs Dorothy Cantrell from the Irish Peace Institute for all their help and support over the last number of years. It would be remiss of us not to thank Sam Lockhart our driver who was most courteous and helpful over the weekend. Nothing was too much trouble, and being from Ballymoney he immediately struck up a close friendship with the band’s conductor. There were times some band members were actually wondering what language they were conversing in?? But they seemed to understand each other!!

Finally, humongous thanks to Sammy Blair, who at extremely late notice and as he kept reminding us, his advancing years, filled in as Drum Major and did an excellent job, and also Craig McAlister (our original Drum Major) who really pulled us out of a huge hole on snare drum. Without these two flexible musicians, things could have been much worse!! Sammy is now a radio personality, having been interviewed for the local Limerick station. He amazed us all (and himself) with his eloquence, knowledge of the band and the types of music we play!! Must’ve been Paddy’s influence?

Hopefully next year we’ll bring back a trophy or two!

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