Drogheda Youth Brass at the 2000 North of Ireland Band Championships
by Trevor Johnston
Ordinarily, the last Saturday in October is witness to two bands from Drogheda travelling to Belfast, both with the aim of competing in the North of Ireland Championships. This year, however, the Drogheda Brass Band's senior band had opted not to compete in the Championship Section. Charged, then, with representing the whole Drogheda Brass Band organisation was Drogheda Youth Brass - and represent us they did!
Conductor Martin Cassidy and the band had been busy perfecting Eric Ball's "The Young in Heart", test-piece for the day, for the past few weeks. It was to be Drogheda Youth Brass' first major competition: the fourth grade brass section, competing with five other bands from across the north of Ireland. To everyone's collective delight, they finished in third place - an excellent result for their first ever public performance of a test-piece. Indeed, the band could scarcely have done themselves more proud.
At the end of the afternoon, walking away with the Presidents' Cup and the Harry Brittain Memorial Trophy were Tempo Silver, with 179 points out of a possible 200. Only four points away were Drogheda Youth Brass.
| Band | Score |
|---|---|
| Tempo Silver | 179 |
| Symington Memorial Silver | 177 |
| Drogheda Youth Brass | 175 |
| Poyntzpass Silver | 173 |
| Ballinamallard Silver | 171 |
Of course, this has been a fantastic start for Drogheda Youth Brass; but it is, nonetheless, only the beginning...next year, they and their conductor will accept nothing less than first place!