This article is from page 83 of the 2008-07-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 83 JPG
ENNIS Brass Band received the Presidential seal of approval after a memorable performance at Aras na Uachtaran
All 28 members of the Ennis Brass Band performed for the president and guests along with Riverdance and musicians Sean Davey & Liam O’Floinn at the Aras Garden Party on July 1.
It isn’t the first time the band has per- formed for the President McAleese. Two years ago, the band welcomed the President to the County Museum, on the occasion when Ennis was named Ireland’s tidiest town.
But, according to band member Daragh McAllister, this most recent reception at Aras na Uachtaran, ranks
as the highest accolade bestowed in the band’s 37-year history.
“We had had heard that the Presi- dent hold these type of events pretty regularly. So we sent the letter saying that we would love to perform for the President”, explained Daragh, “It’s the biggest thing that has happened to the band in its history”.
The band marked the occasion by presenting the President with a gift. “We presented her with a piece of Burren Limstone engraved with the name of the band and the date”. President McAleese hosted the event to recognise the contribution of teachers to Irish society.
More than 350 recently retired teach- ers from throughout the country joined the President at the Aras along with representatives from the main
teaching unions – ASTI, INTO and the Teacher’s Union of Ireland. Speaking at the event, the President said, “The Irish story of success at home and success against the odds abroad is not a story of coincidences but of commitment – the commit- ment of those who chose the great vocation of teaching whatever the ups and downs of the times. Through that vocation they introduced each unique pupil to his or her abilities and talents, developed their strengths, helped them devise coping strate- gies to manage and overcome their weaknesses and sent them out into the world as well-equipped as they could, to become the best people they could.”
Another milestone in the history of Ennis bras Band will be achieved lat-
er this week when the band travel to a pocket of southwest France closely linked with Ennis. St Paul de Fe- nouillet was twinned with Ennis in 1989 and the band are due to perform there on Saturday night.
“We are going there mainly as a holt- day for the band, but we got in touch with some people over there and there is going to be reception for us in the town. We are mainly going to be based around Perpignan. Playing at the Aras was the biggest thing for us but this trip is pretty big as well”, said Daragh.