2023.... LATEST NEWS - Ardee Concert Band

2023 Latest News

Updated Jan 2024

We had a very busy Christmas here in the Bohemian Centre.

Our concert was a raging success, “The best one in years” was a common review after the night. Each member played their hearts out and most importantly they had immense fun and a great night.

Our Senior band played at the annual parish Carol Service alongside parish choirs, a real Christmas tradition and a favourite for our band members.

Our younger members finished their rehearsals for 2023 with a Christmas Jumper Rehearsal and a treat for Christmas

Some members played at the turning on of the Christmas Lights at Ardee castle before Santa arrived for the very important job of lighting up the streets, a cold but very enjoyable night. Thanks to Ardee Traders association for the invite.

Carol’s on the Town on the 23rd and 24th of Dec and playing Christmas Day Mass at 12noon rounded of the busy festive period for our members.

We would like to wish all our members and supporters a very happy Christmas and a happy New year for 2024.

Our 41st Annual Christmas concert of Ardee Concert Band will take place in the Bohemian Centre on Friday 8th December at 8:00pm sharp.

This year’s concert will feature performances from the Senior Band, Intermezzo Ensemble, Junior Band and our Recorder Group.

Tickets are priced at €15 each for adults, with children €10 at the door.

There are a limited number of tickets available and last years concert was a sell-out, so we would encourage you to secure your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

Rememberance Mass

We will be playing at 12 Noon Mass on this Sunday, November 5th to remember all our members who have gone before us.

Spooky Celebrations

Saturday 28th October our u-18 members had a fantastic night in the Bohemian at their Halloween members party. Plenty of fun and new friendships were made on the night.

Thanks to all the organisers for their efforts in making the night spooktacular 🦇😊🎃🎉

More pictures available to view on our Facebook page 😊

Ardee Band celebrate double win in Armagh

There was huge celebrations in the Bohemian Centre this weekend as both our bands ; Ardee Concert Senior Band and the Ardee Concert Band Intermezzo Ensemble both won 1st place in their respective sections of Championship Concert and 4th Grade Concert on Saturday October 21st at the 105th NIBA Championships in the Marketplace Theatre Armagh adjudicated by Mr Chris Wormald.

Our Ardee Senior band of 50 strong Musicians just pipped our friends from Dublin Concert Band for 1st place at the Armagh theatre playing Symphonic Gershwin and Shenandoah. This is the second year in a row for our senior band to win the Fabulous Turner Trophy.

Eight young members who recently joined our senior band from the Intermezzo Ensemble last August played in their first ever senior competition Under the senior bands musical director Mr Ronan O’Reilly.

The Ardee Concert Band Intermezzo Ensemble of 22 members under their Musical Director, Mr James MacCafferty also took home 1st place in their 4th Grade Concert section after performing 3 pieces for the adjudicator.

“Spirits were very high on the bus back to Ardee as each band Brought a trophy back to the north east town. I send my Congratulations to each and every member of both bands and to their support network at home also, for the support of their family members putting in time for rehearsals at home and at the Bandroom”, said PRO Sinéad Behan.

Ardee Senior Band win 3rd place at South of Ireland Band Championships

40 members of Ardee Concert Band travelled to West cork last weekend to take part in the 42nd South of Ireland band Championships in Clonakilty, Co. Cork on Saturday July 1st 2023.

Under the baton of Mr James MacCafferty, the Senior Band played 4 pieces in their performance coinciding with the theme of “Anthology” for the year 1923, for which they took home the bronze Medal of 3rd Prize back to the wee County.

They opened up their set in the traditional banding way performing a March titled English Folk Song Suite, 3rd movement March by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Secondly the band played “Sleep” by Eric Whitacre, next the band Played Duke Ellington in Concert a rare find in their library during the year arranged by Wayne Scott featuring Trumpet and Clarinet Solos. To finish their competition slot they performed a novelty piece “Yes, We have no bananas” by Conn and Silver/ Albert Henry, the song became a major hit in 1923, placing No. 1 for five weeks.

The bands Competition entries made quite the impression on the days Adjudicator Mr John Doyle, heralded as one the UK’s leading performers on Cornet, Flugel Horn, Soprano Cornet and Trumpet and is in great demand around the world as a Soloist, Conductor, Adjudicator and Educator.

After a long deliberation he announced the top 3 prize winners for the Senior section in which 10 very talented bands performed.

He awarded 3rd place to Ardee Concert Band, 2nd place to The Elastic Band and 1st place to Dublin Concert Band.

Our full performance can be viewed on link: Click here for YouTube link to full performance

June 2023

our senior band has performed at summer engagements including

The opening of the Grace Gifford Plunkett garden of Rememberance in Dunleer. Many thanks to Dunleer Tidy towns for the invite

Bellurgan Park at the Louth Agricultural Show. The day was a scorcher and the band played to a great crowd who flocked to the show on the Sunday afternoon.

Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre

Join us from 2pm today at Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre , Oldbridge today Sunday until 4pm

Nationals 2023

We are so proud of all 26 members of our Intermezzo Ensemble and their excellent conductor James MacCafferty who played so brilliantly and musically yesterday in the 4th Section of the National Band Championships in Athlone.

They were awarded the 2nd prize trophy and they also won the award for the Best March. 🏆🏆

Congratulations to the winners of this section, Castlebar Concert Band , who were entering these Championships for the first time.