This article is from page 32 of the 2007-07-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
THE BATTLE of the bands brought tunes and toe-tapping to Tulla at the weekend. Members of the Tulla Pipe Band played host to the Munster Pipe Band Championships.
The event follows on their hosting of the championships last year, to mark their 70th birthday.
The musical gathering saw more than fifteen bands, including almost two hundred musicians, helpers and supporters flock to the town on Sun- day.
Between lpm and 5pm, the bands
played their hearts out for the honour of being the best in Munster.
For the finale, all of the musicians joined in a musical parade through the village and the grounds of the national school were busy with per- formers and locals who came along to enjoy the music and support the competitors.
There were four grades of competi- tion, with the Tulla band competing with the best of them.
Michael O’ Rourke of the Tulla Pipe Band said they were “delighted and honoured” to be hosting the impor- tant competition for the second year
running.
“Even the weather was kind to us on the day – we had a fine afternoon and everyone enjoyed it,” he said.
While hosting of the Munster Championship is up for grabs next year, the Tulla organisation is hoping to have some input into the organi- sation of the All-Ireland Champion- ships, which will be held in Ennis next year in July.
The event will see up to 100 bands from all over the country come to town to play and compete.
‘Ennis will never have see the likes of it. It’s a massive event and a real
boost for Clare,’ Michael said.
Pat Danagher of the Tulla Pipe Band was named the Munster Cham- pion Bass Drummer. The Tulla Pipe Band finished runners up to Youghal with Togher coming in third. Limer- ick City Pipe Band were the overall competition winners with another Limerick band, Corpus Christi also among the prize winners.