Day 81 #100DaysOfOldDays 

In November 1977 the Bailieborough Youth Band was formed. All the young aspiring musicians of Bailieborough turned up at the community centre to join the band. Bridie Farrelly and Mary Clarke were on the band committee and Joey Larkin was the chairperson.

They needed drummers, accordion players and tin whistle players—or flageolet as the band master, John Farnan, called it. Oh…and cymbal players! Was there a triangle too?

We bought our chosen instruments and lessons began immediately. I started with the tin whistle and then moved on to the accordion. John Farnan was a strict but excellent music teacher. He took no messing. You were there to learn music or you stayed at home. He was very dedicated to the marching bands community.

The leader of the band was our majorette. As far as I remember, Loretta Rogers was the first Majorette. Marcella Brady took on the role for a few years in the 80’s. I’m pretty sure Bridgette Murray did it for a while too. 

Did I dream this part? The FCA came in to teach us how to march. Did that happen? Left…right! Left, right, left! And they showed us how to do that wee quick skip if you fell out of step with the rest of the band. Left…right! Left, left, right!

Within seven months of learning our new instruments we were ready to shine. Our debut public appearance took place at the opening of the Bailieborough festival in June 1978.  

We were in our element in our crisp white shirts, dark blue skirts, and trousers for the boys. We had dickie bows too, and a sash and a beret to complete our uniform.

The roll of the drums and the cue from our majorette as she began to twirl her staff, started us on our first live march. Off we went through the streets of Bailieborough playing the likes of Roddy McCorley and The West’s Awake—feeling quite nervous. Proud mammies and daddies cheered us on from the crowd. 

I’d be doing well to remember all the tunes we played on our first outing. But others I remember learning during my years in the band are; Colonel Bogey, Maggie, The Minstrel Boy, Spancil Hill, O’Donnell Abu, and our good ole Amhrán na bhFiann.

The most exciting part of being in the band was the many trips to festivals and competitions. We’d travel on a bus and eat loads of sweets. God help the bus driver’s ears, as we all practiced a different tune on the way there.

We played in hot sun, rain and sometimes snow but won prizes for different categories; best dressed, best musical performance and best marching techniques. And we had a lot of fun along the way.  

I came across this photo on Bailieborough History.

The photo is old and blurry but I can make out a few people starting from the back row, although I may have one or two wrong; Niall Keegan, Rosena Brady, maybe one or two of the Carolans, I think the majorette was Loretta Rogers, Jim Brady, Bridget Murray, Clare Connolly.

Second row; I can only make out a few girls in the center – Sheila Brady, Katriona Larkin, Elizabeth Sheridan, Sharon Connell, Pauline Reilly, Eileen Reilly, Ann Donohoe, Eileen Farrell.

Third row; Martin Smith, and that’s about all I can pick out from that row! I see they’re wearing jackets. I don’t remember us having jackets as part of the uniform.

Front row; I can’t make out too many here either. Is it Lynda Rogers behind the bass drum? That’s me in the front row fifth from the right. I think Linda McCluskey is there too, and Sandra Coleman. I know lots more who were in the band, but I just can’t pick them out in this photo.

The marching bands were the heart and soul of the parades! They’re most definitely not gone but they’re not as plentiful as they once were.

Now, all this makes me want to go out and buy an accordion!