Garda Band for Slane fundraising concert

The Band of An Garda Siochana will pay a visit to Meath on Tuesday 3rd May they play a concert in St Patrick's Church, Slane, to raise funds for the Irish Wheelchair Association North East, with a small donation from the proceeds going to St Erc's conference of St Vincent De Paul. Since its establishment in 1922, the Garda Band has adopted many musical forms. From its first inception as a pipe band, it involved into a traditional military band which included a ceili band, and a dance orchestra, right up to present day when its present format incorporates all these musical disciplines in one unit. This diversification became necessary because of the wide variety of engagements that the present day band perform, from parades and major sporting events, ceremonial functions, concerts and recitals, and radio and television performances. The band has travelled extensively throughout the country and abroad and performs at all major festivals and community musical events, most notably the Rose of Tralee pageant. The band's music programmes are designed to incorporate a wide variety of music ranging from major classical works through the concert band repertoire of selections and light pieces all the way to vocal items, Irish traditional, jazz, pop and rock. The band also undertakes an extensive school's programme in which the different musical aspects are demonstrated to pupils in primary, secondary, and third level establishment. Inspector Pat Kenny is the current Director of Music. Admission on the night is €10. Contact Seamus Casey (087) 777 4700 or Theresa Healey (Slane) on (087) 697 0421.