Irish National Champions 2007
by Brian Murphy
Drogheda Brass Band bridged an eight-year gap to finally recapture the senior title at the National Championships, held in New Ross, County Wexford, on Sunday 15th April.
Under the expert tuition of musical director Michael Maher the band, who finished as close runners-up to Arklow Silver Band in 2006, this time had what it took to impress Scottish adjudicator Hughina Naylor to win the title from The Stedfast Band and neighbours Lourdes Brass Band.
Conductor Michael Maher and secretary Yvonne Cunningham with the John O'Mahoney Memorial Cup.
Vice-Chairman of Irish Association of Brass and Concert Bands (IABCB) Lorcan Daly, a past conductor of Drogheda Brass Band, congratulated all the bands for taking part and told the audience that there had been an Irish theme to all the test pieces chosen for the different sections.
"Gaelforce" by Peter Graham was the test piece for section one brass and Drogheda Brass Band received 97 out of 100 for this piece, along with 47 out of 50 for their "own choice" of "Oceans" by Goff Richards, making for a total of 144; this was four clear of Stedfast's 140 and eight ahead of Lourdes' 136.
The cup was presented by Hughina Naylor to band secretary Yvonne Cunningham and Michael Maher. The band will now have the opportunity of respresenting the country at the European Brass Band Championships, due to be held in Norway next year.
It will be an exciting year ahead for the new national champions as they are also in the process of getting through the last of the red tape before they build their new purpose-built bandrooms at Toberboice Lane in Mell.
As a result of their efforts at the weekend, the band have also retained the "own choice" trophy they captured last year.
Despite the early start and the long day of travel, band members celebrated on their return to Drogheda.