At a civic reception in Cork on Thursday, the lord mayor, Mr P.J. Hourican, will honour one of its most venerable institutions, the Barrack Street Band. Having recently won the silver award at the British Band Championships in Manchester, it has become the toast of the city it has adorned for more than 160 years.
Officially known as the Cork Barrack Street Silver and Reed Band, locally it is simply and proudly called "the Barracka." It was born when the temperance movement organisers believed the creation of local bands was a good way of keeping people away from the demon drink. Its music has echoed in Cork since 1837.
The Barracka provides free entertainment on the streets of the city, encouraging the young to become involved in music, and enriching the lives of the people. To compete at Manchester, the band had to qualify from one of the regional finals held in the UK, but as the cost of doing so would be prohibitive, an application was made for one of the qualifying rounds to be held in Ireland. There was some surprise when the British organisers agreed and in October of last year, Keith Allen, a distinguished conductor and adjudicator, travelled to Cork to assess the band's performance. A concert was held at Redmonds' GAA club not far from the Barrack Street bandroom. Mr Allen was suitably impressed and the Barracka became the first Irish band to qualify for the event.
It was, says the band's conductor, Kevin Meldrum, a momentous occasion.
Finding members, and keeping them after they have become proficient, has been as much a problem for the Cork band as for other bands throughout Ireland. At the end of the 1980s, a decline in membership due to retirement and emigration forced a rethink and a new scheme was devised.
The Vocational Educational Committee in Cork agreed to provide funding for tutors and in 1991, 30 young people between 10 and 16, "began their musical education," as the latest history of the band, compiled by bass player Mr Con Sheehan puts it.
"This system involves students coming to our bandroom where tutors employed by the band give lessons in all the various instruments which the band requires. All our students sit the Trinity College, London, examinations. This group forms the backbone of the present successful band," he said.
"Currently, along with the senior band, there is a student band, which is under the direction of Mr Billy O'Callaghan with the assistance of some of the players from the senior band. This band does its own engagements and is used as a transition for the students progressing into the senior band. The senior band has a playing membership of 45, with the student band numbering 15 as well as a small number of senior players," according to the history.
At the start of the present school year, the scheme was expanded further when the band provided tutors and some instruments to two primary schools, nearby Greenmount and Scoil an Athar Maitiu in Togher. Through their own resources, the schools are investing in more instruments and other equipment.
By Christmas, the budding musicians should be able to perform in concert but the main objective is that the initiative will be a continuing nursery for the Barracka.
"The long-term hope for this part of the scheme is that it will provide a continuous supply of young people into the band as well as helping to give them a skill that they may use all their life. It is proving very successful to date," says Mr Sheehan.
The band, of course, has shown long before now that it can adapt to change. Once a male-only preserve, in the 1970s, Eileen Kelly, who plays clarinet, asked if she could join and was immediately accepted. The Barracka draws members from throughout Cork city. Its motto: Ar agaidh le cheile.