Lourdes Band return to rehearsal

Great to be back.

The Lourdes Brass Band had their first full Band rehearsal since the Pandemic began. It was great to see all our members again and get back to making music.

Mr. Gavin Warren took the Band through an outdoor, socially distant rehearsal, which was very kindly facilitated by Drogheda United allowing us the use of United Park.

Gavin extended his thanks to the Drogheda United staff and is really looking forward to seeing his Band on a more regular basis.

Lourdes Brass Band resumes activities with Open-Air rehearsals.

With the latest relaxation of government restrictions, we are finally in a position to start back to band rehearsals. It's been a long long lockdown, but finally there is light at the end of the tunnel.

We are resuming rehearsals next Thursday 10th June in an open air format. Drogheda United have very generously agreed to allow the Lourdes Brass Band use of there stadium, where we can avail of their shelterd stand for rehearsing outdoors.

The community spirit shown by Drogheda United in assisting us is hugely appreciated and shows their ever present support to the Drogheda community. Many thanks to all involved in the club and it's supporters from all at the Lourdes Brass Band, Drogheda.

The Band committee also wishes to acknowledge and thank Cllr. Joanna Byrne for her assistance in arranging this.

Mr. Harry Kelly - Laid to rest.

The Lourdes Brass Band, Drogheda have laid their band President Mr. Harry Kelly to rest.

Harry's final journey from the St. Augustinians Church to Calvary Cemetery on Sat 23rd Jan 2021 was marked by members of the Lourdes Band providing a socially distant guard of honour from the Poor house lane to the cemetery entrance.

Band Chairman Mr. Danny Black stated that “It's unfortunate that we couldn't give Harry a more befitting send off, but under the current circumstances the Band honoured our lost friend as best we could".

Harry's legacy of Music will forever remain part of the history of the Lourdes Brass Band.

Lourdes Brass Band, Mourns our President Mr. Harry Kelly

The members and friends of the Lourdes Brass Band are mourning the loss of their long standing Conductor, President, Musical advisor and lifelong friend Mr. Harry Kelly.

It was with great sadness that we heard of Harry’s passing on Sunday 17th Jan 2021 and we send our deepest sympathies to the Kelly family.

Harry’s long association with the Lourdes Brass Band, Drogheda had begun in 1990, when he took over as the Bands Musical Director. Under his stewardship the Band enjoyed many successes, winning titles in all the major Band events.

However the loss that the Band are feeling for Harry is much more personal than the loss of a Musical Director. All through his 31 year association he always took the time to mentor and nurture each members musical skills and indeed became somewhat of a father figure and role model for each Band member.

Harry had passed over the Musical Director role of the Lourdes Brass Band in 2013, but remained a very strong member of the Band and always made his vast musical knowledge available to all. 2013 also saw Harry being honored with the role of Lourdes Band President. Always eager to help young musicians Harry conducted the Lourdes Youth Band to a fine performance in the most recent South of Ireland band Championships.

Harry’s passing will be felt by the entire Banding community of Ireland, as he had enjoyed relationships with many of the Bands throughout the country over the years, Mullingar Town Band, Clondalklin Band, Drogheda Brass Band, Ardee Concert Band and Dublin Concert Band to name a few. The current Musical Director of the Lourdes Brass Band Mr Gavin Warren led the flood of tributes “Harry’s loss will be felt throughout the Irish banding scene, and all of us at the Lourdes Brass Band will miss him on a very personal level. Our sympathies are with his family”.

Harry Kelly.

R.I.P.

The lifetime of Music you made will play on for many years.

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Honouring our deceased members 2020

November is the month that we take a moment to remember the deceased members and friends of the Lourdes Brass Band.

Traditionally we celebrate their memories by performing our music at a dedicated mass. Unfortunately this year we are unable to meet up and honour their memories. We invite you to watch our short video dedicated to all the deceased members, family and friends of the Lourdes Brass Band.

Each of our remembered friends have left the legacy of making the Lourdes Brass Band the organisation it has grown into today. Our short video captures some of that journey.

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Happy Birthday - to our life long friend.

The Lourdes Brass Band sends our warmest birthday wishes to a life long supporter and a great friend to our Band.

Maisie Smith, who is ever present at all the Banding events throughout the country celebrates a big birthday today. Her generosity with her time through the years has allowed the Smith family to be a driving force in our Band, gracing us with three generations of musicians.

Happy Birthday Maisie on a milestone birthday,  sorry we cant celebrate it with you.

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Return of the Rhythm

It's been a long lockdown, but it was great to hear the Lourdes Brass Band, Drogheda return to making music again. Friendships were renewed and the melodic sounds of Brass Band music echoed around our Bandroom once more. With Mr. Gavin Warren taking charge of his first rehearsal as the Lourdes Bands, Musical Director. Whilst our new Covid-19 protocols made things slightly different. We were delighted to return to making music again.

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Lourdes Brass Band, Drogheda to resume rehearsals.

We are delighted to announce the Lourdes Brass Bands return to rehearsal schedule and protocols:

  • Lourdes Senior Band

    Rehearsals will resume on Thursday 6th August, with rehearsals on Mondays and Thursdays thereafter.

  • Lourdes Youth Band.

    Rehearsals will resume on Monday 17th August, with rehearsal on both Monday and Thursday thereafter.

  • Lourdes School of Music (Beginner classes).

    Classes will resume on Tuesday 1st September, with classes running each Tuesday thereafter.

All rehearsals will now be carried out in our largest rooms. Chair placement markings are indicated on each rehearsal room floor to allow a minimum of 2Mtrs distance between all members. There will be additional rehearsal breaks to allow for room ventilation. We will of course be circulating or latest Covid-19 protocols to all our members, these protocols will cover the following in detail:

  • Room occupancy levels.

  • New One-way systems for entry and exit of both rehearsal rooms and the building.

  • Covid-19 tracing logs.

  • Hand sanitation and touch point wipe down facilities provided in all rehearsal rooms.

  • Changes to toilet/welfare facilities to ensure social distancing.

  • No sharing of Instruments, mouth pieces or any equipment is allowed.

    We have engaged a professional cleaning company to carry out a deep sterilization throughout the building before the resumption of any rehearsals.

    We are all looking forward to resuming band activities, but we will as ever remain vigilant to the latest guidelines and endeavor to maintain the highest safety standards for all our members, their families and our community.

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Handing over the Musical Baton.

Prof. Michael Alcorn has handed over the Musical Baton of the Lourdes Brass Band to Mr. Gavin Warren.

The past years has saw Michael guide the Lourdes Band to many successes and has improved the Band immensely, but changes to Michael's travel arrangements means that remaining as the Bands MD was just not viable.

Mr. Gavin Warren, will take up the musical baton as the Lourdes Bands newly appointed MD.

Gavin is a vastly experienced professional musician with a career in the Band of the Irish Defence Forces. He is a long term friend of the Lourdes Brass Band and has conducted our Senior Band on occasion.

Both Gavin and Michael have worked together with the Lourdes Band and the opportunity of continuing their musical work together with the Band is something we all look forward too.

All members of our organisation wish both men best regards in their new ventures.

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Coronavirus (Covid-19).

In the interest of the Health/Safety and well-being of our members, supporters and the general public, the Lourdes Brass Band has Cancelled/Postponed many of our calendar events, and bookings. We sincerely apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause, but under the present circumstances we are sure that this will be understood by all. We will of course update our social media platforms with re-scheduled events and dates as they are re-arranged.

We are consonantly reviewing and updating our members, with the measures we have put in place to ensure we operate with best practice in avoiding the Covid-19 virus. Our rehearsal schedule will also be under constant review and cancellations will be communicated to those concerned.

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Lourdes Bands Christmas holiday schedule

The Lourdes Brass Band will be taking our Christmas Holidays as follows:

Senior Band:

  • Holiday starts Sat. Dec. 14th 2019 (After public, Christmas Carol performance).

  • Rehearsals Resumes Wed. 8th Jan 2020.

Youth Band (LYB):

  • Holiday starts Sat. Dec. 14th 2019 (After public, Christmas Carol performance).

  • Rehearsals Resumes Mon. 6th Jan 2020.

Lourdes School of Music (Beginner Classes):

  • Holiday starts Thurs. Dec. 12th 2019 (After Lourdes Band Christmas Concert).

  • Rehearsals Resumes Tue. 7th Jan 2020.

We wish all our members, friends and supporters a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and look forward to a musical 2020.

Lourdes Brass Band serving the community since 1959

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Deceased members remembered.

The Lourdes Brass Band, Drogheda would like to thank all who joined us in remembering our deceased members, family and friends.

Members of the Lourdes Youth Band gave a musical tribute at the 12.00pm mass on Sunday 10th Nov. In the St. Augustinians church. While the Lourdes Senior Band paid their musical respects at the 1.15pm Mass. Lourdes band member, Mr. John Walsh conducted both bands through their performances.

Once again it was lovely to see so many friends celebrate with us. The Lourdes Brass Band wishes to acknowledge the kind generosity of our neighbour's on Bachelors lane, the St. Augustinians Church. Who were very kind in facilitating our remembrance mass.

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Lourdes Brass Band, Drogheda - Win the North of Ireland Band Championships

The Lourdes Brass Band has successfully challenged in the North of Ireland Band Championships taking first place. The test piece selection of “Purcell Variations” by Kenneth Downie was performed to a high standard by all the competing bands.

Adjudicator Mr. Alan Fernie had the unenviable task of  ranking the performances. The Lourdes Brass Band from Drogheda were delighted with Alan’s decision to award the Band  1st place scoring 187pts. The Lourdes Bands Musical Director Prof. Michael Alcorn  also gained additional recognition and award for his conducting skills.

Prof. M. Alcorn congratulated the entire band on their performance and commended the fine playing of the bands soloist's Mr.Mark Newman (Principal Cornet), Mrs LeeAnne Kelly (Principal Tenor Horn) for their superb delivery on the day. The Bands newest recruits, who have just recently transitioned from the Lourdes Youth Band to our Senior band also gained special praise from our Musical Director Prof M. Alcorn.

As ever the hospitality we received in the Armagh Market Place Theatre from both the N.I.B.A. event organisers and our fellow Brass Band community was very welcome and much appreciated.

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Thank you Drogheda.

The Lourdes Brass Band, Drogheda acknowledges the generosity of our Drogheda community. Once again the people of Drogheda displayed their brilliant community spirit and very generously suppoted the Lourdes Bands, Flag Day street collection.

We are always proud to represent our community and will strive to use the generous funding you provided to entertain, educate and be an active community group that Droghda can be proud of.

Lourdes Brass Band, serving the community since 1959.

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Lourdes Band says, “Thanks for a great Fleadh”

The Lourdes Brass Band , Drogheda wishes to thank all for a brilliant Fleadh Cheoil. Drogheda once again showed off her beauty and extended a hugely warm welcome to the thousands of vistors to our town. The members of the Lourdes Brass Band had a brilliant time entertaining the huge crowds, with impromptu street performances from our School of Music, live broadcast Mass and a lively Traditional Music performance on the main Gig Rig in Bolton Square.

We thank the community, Fleadh organisers and all the visitors to the town for allowing us be part of a hugely successful Fleadh.

Anybody interested in learning to play music, is more than welcome to join us at the Lourdes Brass Band. See link below to register your interest and we will inform you as our new classes start this Autumn.

https://form.jotformeu.com/92192987981375

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Lourdes Brass Band express our sympathies.

It is with sadness we hear of the death of Dick McDermot. Dick has been a very active member of our community and a driving force behind the Drogheda Branch of the “Men’s Shed”. Dick had an active interest in local community activities and the Lourdes Band were delighted to work with Dick and perform for the Drogheda Men’s Shed open day.

The sympathies of the Lourdes Brass Band go to his family and friends.

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Lourdes Band invited to perform at Live Televised Mass.

The Lourdes Brass Band, Drogheda has been invited by the organisers of the 2019 Fleadh Cheoil, to provide a Musical enhancement to the 11am Mass in St. Peters Church Drogheda on Sunday 18th August.

The Mass will be televised live by TG4, who will be broadcasting a lot of the Fleadh highlihhts over the week.

In addition we will be entertaining the crowds from the Gig Rig later that day with our high tempo Traditional music theme.

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