The Drogheda Brass Band’s final public appearance (after Farmleigh House and Áras an Uachtaráin) of the summer months involved playing at a band festival in county Cavan on 16th July which was organised and hosted by the St Mary’s Brass and Reed Band from Kingscourt.

Accompanied by many of the junior band the band enjoyed a great day’s music making with thirteen other bands, including a band on tour in Ireland from Austria, complete with Swiss alpine horns.

This concluded a fantastic week’s music for the band and was a great lead into our annual “Summer Sounds” school of music, beginning just 5 days later.

Just days after their Sunday afternoon appearance in Farmleigh House, on 12th July 2007 the Drogheda Brass Band made a return trip to the Phoenix Park where they had the impressive honour of entertaining the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and her distinguished guestes at a garden party in her official state residence, Áras an Uachtaráin.

The theme of the garden party was, of course, peace and reconciliation in the island of Ireland and the Drogheda Brass Band were delighted to be invited to perform at such a prestigious event. It was fitting that a band situated so close to the Battle of the Boyne site were chosen for the day that was in it.

We played a similar programme to that played previously in Farmleigh House and it was again very well received by the president and her distinguished guests.

Afterwards, the members of the band were invited, along with the day’s other performers, to a cheese and wine reception along with a guided tour of the magnificent Áras.

Additionally, just prior to our appearance, the band had the honour of taking a formal photograph with the president and her husband. Truly, this was an engagement that will be remembered by the band for many years to come.

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On 9th July the Drogheda Brass Band were once again asked to perform in Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park.

Following the success of last year, the band eagerly accepted the invitation. However, unlike last year, the weather was certainly against us.

While this meant that certainly not as many people turned up as last year, the band – as they always do – played on and entertained a small but enthusiastic crowd with some popular music including Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, perennial pop-idol favourite “The Wind Beneath My Wings” and the famous Irish tune “The Rose of Tralee”.