ACHILL BAND CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
12 March 1997
Achill Island will echo to the skirl of pipes and the beat of drums at the weekend as the Dooagh Pipe Band celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Reputedly the world's largest pipe band, the Dooagh Pipe Band was founded by Aranmore Islander Hugh Conaghan who also started the Keel Pipe Band when he came to the area in the 1940's.
On Friday night in the Wavecrest, there will be a presentation to surviving members of the first band who are still living in Achill: John English; Patrick McNamara; John McNamara (Lively); Tom Toolis and Pat McNamara.
On Saturday night there will be another celebration function in the Wavecrest. On Monday, St. Patrick's Day, the fifty or so band members will play from dawn before linking up with other bands to perform at various venues around the island.
St. Patrick's Day parades will take place all over the county with one of the largest being in Kiltimagh (see pages 14 and 15). The following is the timetable.
- Castlebar, Sunday 3p.m.
- Ballinrobe, Monday 2.15p.m.
- Kiltimagh, Sunday 3p.m.
- Charlestown, Monday 2.30p.m.
- Swinford, Monday 3.30p.m.
- Claremorris, Monday 1.30p.m.
- Belmullet, Monday 2.30p.m.
- Kilmaine, Monday 2.30p.m.
- Shrule, Monday 12 noon.
- Ballina, Sunday.
Meanwhile CRCfm will provide live coverage of the Castlebar parade on
Sunday from 2-5p.m. The station's outside broadcast unit and crew, together
with studio guests, will make for entertaining listening.
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - March 1997
