Defence Forces Bands Concert

General Officer Commanding 1^st  Brigade, Brig Gen Caimin Keogh and members of the organising committee along with musicians from the Band of 1 Brigade are delighted to announce details of this year’s  Defence Forces Bands concert. The concert will take place in the City Hall Cork on Friday 20th February at 8.00 pm. Brig Gen Keogh said the concert was a very popular fixture in Cork’s musical and cultural calendar, which is always well supported by a loyal audience. In addition to showcasing the outstanding musicians of the Defence Forces School of Music, the concert also acts as a fundraiser for the Defence Forces Benevolent Fund. This fund supports former members of the Defence Forces who may find themselves in financial or other difficulties.

This year’s concert will feature personnel from the Bands of 1^st Brigade, 2^nd  Brigade and the Army No. 1 Band. As is traditional, the concert will also feature Defence Forces pipers and drummers, who are always very popular with the Cork audience and bring added colour and spectacle to the event. The guest artist this year is Cork’s Molly Lynch. Molly is enjoying a successful career in the UK and has performed in numerous musical theatre roles in London’s West End. Although Molly has sung for Cork audiences before, this year’s concert will be her debut performance with the Bands of the Defence Forces. Brig Gen Keogh said he was delighted that this debut is happening in such a magnificent venue as Cork City Hall. The men and women of the Bands and Molly are excited about what promises to be a magical musical evening.

In addition to the concert on 20^th  February, on Tuesday 24^th  February, the Defence Forces Bands will stage a special concert for Primary School children. The schools concert usually takes place before the main event, but not so this year due to mid-term break. Over forty schools in the Cork area were contacted and a fantastic response was received. Almost 1,000 school children will attend the concert on the morning of 24^th  February in the City Hall and this event always proves to be extremely popular.

On stage for this year’s concert will be conductors Capt Ben Jacob and Capt Willie Chester. Ben is the conductor of 1^st  Brigade Band based in Collins Barracks and Willie is the conductor of 2^nd  Brigade Band based in Athlone.  Also attending the concert on the night is the newly appointed Director of the Defence Forces of Music, Lt Col Fergal Carroll. Fergal was formerly conductor of 1^st  Brigade Band and has performed with the Bands in the City Hall on several occasions. The compere for the evening will be Capt Mary Walsh who was commissioned into the Defence Forces School of Music in 2025.

Concert tickets will go on sale on Saturday 14^th   February  at 1000 in Merchant’s  Quay Shopping Centre and will be on sale until Friday 20 February, from 10 am to 4 pm, with the exception of Sunday 15 Feb. Ticket prices are €30 for balcony, €20 front parterre and €10 back parterre. Please note cash sales only.

Pictured at Collins Barracks Cork is  General Officer Commanding 1^st  Brigade Brig Gen Caimin Keogh with Capt Ben Jacob, Conductor of the Band of 1^st Brigade.

Saxophone quartet from Band of the 1^st Brigade at a recent event in NMCI, Sgt Eva Collins, BW Hannah Conneely, Cpl Maeve O’Brien and BW Ciara Lineen