This article is from page 13 of the 2011-08-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
THEY have been part and parcel of big sporting occasions in Clare for 75 years but are the Tulla Pipe Band about to make their mark on the world stage?
Though yet to be confirmed, it is thought that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) are keen to have the legendary band perform at Ireland’s crucial European Championship qualifier against Slovakia in Dublin on September 2.
Having been a fixture at county finals and other major cultural and sporting events including Munster Club and Railway Cup finals, the mooted performance would bring the talents of the men and women of the Tulla Pipe Band to a global audience.
Ireland need to beat Slovakia to cement their place at the top of Group B and further enhance their chances of qualifying for next year’s tournament in Poland and the Ukraine.
Should the band line out in front of Giovanni Trappattoni and Co. at the Aviva stadium; it would surely rank as one of the biggest moments in the 75-year history of the famous pipe band.
The logistics of transporting all 20 band members and their equipment to Dublin would be a challenge but you wouldn’t bet against them rising to the occasion and inspiring the boys in green to a famous victory.
Plans for the band to perform at the game are said to be “99% in place”.
The band left an indelible impression on FAI boss John Delaney and former internationals Ray Houghton and John Aldridge when they performed at the opening of Tulla United’s new € 200,000 community astro turf pitch last month. During the FAI’s weeklong festival of football in Clare, Delaney also revealed that the delegation were “marched” out of a pub in Tulla at 2.30am by the Tulla Pipe Band following a late night in the east Clare village.
The proposed performance would further enhance Tulla’s growing reputation as one of Munster’s football capitals. Tulla United’s Cragg field has already been earmarked by the FAI as a potential venue for an Irish underage international fixture.
Clare will be represented at tomor- row’s international friendly between Ireland and Croatia when Kilrush brothers Kyle and Evan Carmody will serve as flag bearers at the Aviva stadium.