Blanchardstown Brass Band, circa 1925
A photo of Blanchardstown Brass Band, circa 1925. At this time, the band had already been in existence for around 100 years. It did not have uniforms at this stage.
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.Blanchardstown Brass Band, circa 1925
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.
Blanchardstown Brass Band, circa 1925
A photo of Blanchardstown Brass Band, circa 1925. At this time, the band had already been in existence for around 100 years. It did not have uniforms at this stage.
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.Blanchardstown Brass Band was established in 1826 and is still going strong today. The earliest meeting place remembered for the band was an old thatched cottage in the village. This cottage was destroyed by fire in 1903, and all records and papers were lost. Some instruments were saved and the band members took them home. For a number of years after that, rehearsals took place at the village pump at the back of St. Brigid's cottages on Sunday mornings.
Blanchardstown Brass Band, 1936
Blanchardstown Brass Band participating in a Corpus Christi procession in Blanchardstown in 1936.
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.Blanchardstown Brass Band, 1936
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.
Blanchardstown Brass Band, 1936
Blanchardstown Brass Band participating in a Corpus Christi procession in Blanchardstown in 1936.
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.In 1917, Carroll's Hall was used for rehearsals and later the local court house. However, the court house was blown up in 1922. Once again, many of the band's instruments were destroyed. The force of this explosion was so great that the bass drum was later found near the Tolka River. The band received £80 compensation for the loss of its instruments.
A house-to-house collection was organised in 1923 to raise money for a rehearsal hall. There was much civil unrest in Ireland at this time, and a note was made by one of the collectors that 'the Rector at Mount Hybla was so relieved at hearing it was not a hold up, he gave us two pounds.' Enough money was raised from this collection to purchase an old disused army hut for the sum of £15.
Blanchardstown Brass Band, 1959
Three members of Blanchardstown Brass Band modelling the first ever band uniforms in 1959.
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.Blanchardstown Brass Band, 1959
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.
Blanchardstown Brass Band, 1959
Three members of Blanchardstown Brass Band modelling the first ever band uniforms in 1959.
Courtesy of Blanchardstown Brass Band.The old army hut was erected on Mill Road. It was a corrugated iron and wooden structure. The band rehearsed there for almost sixty years. It was forced to move out of the hut in 1979 because the land on which it was situated was sold. Another fundraising drive raised enough money to build a modern rehearsal room next to Blanchardstown Church. This was opened in 1980 and is still used today.