This article is from page 2 of the 2011-09-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
THE match may not live long in the memory but for members of the Tulla Pipe Band the meeting of Ireland and Slovakia in last Friday’s European Championship qualifier was certainly an unforgettable experience.
After years of performing at some of the country’s biggest sporting and cultural events, the band played for over 40,000 fans and an international television audience of millions when they performed the national anthems of the respective nations at the Aviva Stadium.
The band were invited to perform after impressing Football Association of Ireland (FAI) CEO John Delaney during a visit to Tulla in July. An invitation for a first ever performance at the old Lansdowne Road was extended to the band by the FAI through Tulla United.
Club players and officials accompanied the 26 band members and assistant treasurer Mary Boland to Dublin on Friday.
“We got there at 5pm on the button and the bus pulled into the tunnel in the stadium. I suppose it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get into the heart of the stadium,” recalled band Chairman Fintan Leamy.
The band ran through a 20-minute sound check and rehearsal before returning to their dressing room beside the Slovakian national team.
Fintan said, “They were right next door to us. They came out to try and warm up in the warm up area where we had left our equipment and instruments. I think it obstructed them. I don’t know if they were put there for tactical reasons!”
The band spent six weeks preparing for the event, making sure their performance conformed to the strict requirements of television schedules.
He continued, “We were back out on the pitch at exactly 7.29pm, that was our time slot to be out on the field. The playing of the two anthems came in at around 2mins 30secs and we had to shorten it by about 10-15 seconds…It was the most technically managed event we ever played at.”
Fintan added, “We had it all very well rehearsed. From the gate to the pitch in Tulla is almost the exact same length as the tunnel in the Aviva. We were 100 per cent prepared.”
While Slovak fans gave a rapturous response to the band’s version of ‘Lighting over the Tatras’, Fintan said the players weren’t sure what to make of it.
He explained, “The Slovak players were a little surprised on hearing their anthem played on pipe music. The fans were certainly rejoicing in it. It’s normally played in an orchestral band format. It was a totally new sound (for them).”
Band members were congratulated on their performance by John Delaney and former Republic of Ireland international Ray Houghton.
Fintan said he hopes the high profile association with the world of international soccer will help attract a new generation of musicians to the band who this year celebrate 75 years in existence.
He added, “Any band would love the exposure. It’s great advertising. Certainly we would love to do it again.”