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The Blanchardstown Brass Band is a brass band from Blanchardstown in Dublin. The band was originally founded in 1826 as St. Brigid's Brass & Reed Band but changed it's name in 1971 to reflect the all-brass nature of the band. The band is very active and performs around 30 concerts each year. It performs at many local events in the Dublin 15 area and has also performed at fundraisers for many different charities.

History
The band was established in 1826 and in support of this date, reference is made to an old shield on which the band name and year of its foundation were inscribed. The band is believed to have had a connection with a parish Temperance Society as the late Canon Kevin Brady when he was Parish Priest of Blanchardstown in his readings came across the band playing at a Temperance tea-party in the Parish around 1838. The earliest meeting place known was in what was called “The Old Society Rooms”, an old thatched cottage which stood where the old Garda Station in Blanchardstown is today. In 1903, this cottage was destroyed by fire, some of the instruments were saved, but all the records and papers were lost. The members took the instruments to their homes after this, and weekly rehearsals were held at the village pump on the Car Road at the back of St. Brigid’s cottages on Sunday mornings, followed by a march around the village. In 1917, Carroll’s Hall was used, and later the local Court House which was blown up in 1922. Once again, the band suffered the loss of most of its instruments for which they were afterwards compensated with the sum of £80. The Bass Drum was found near the Tolka River after this explosion. Determined to have their own rehearsal hall in 1923, a house-to-house collection was organised in the Parish. With the proceeds of this collection an old disused Army Hut was bought for £15 and re-erected on the Mill Road. This Band room constructed of corrugated iron with a wooden interior accommodated the band very well until they were forced to move out due to the sale of the land in 1979. After nearly 60 years as a place of music making and friendship the old Band room was sold in 1981 for £200 to be used as a shed for livestock. The band now rehearses in a modern Band room in the Priests Field adjacent to the Blanchardstown Church, which was built in 1980 following a successful Buy-a-Brick campaign by members.

Television & Film
The band has made appearances on all of Ireland's main TV stations including RTÉ, TV3 and TG4. In September 2008, RTÉ One's Capital D programme did a feature about the band which included interviews with some of the members and music by the band performed at Farmleigh House with the Newtown Silver Band, visiting from Wales. The band has appeared on television several times while performing at the Dublin Docklands Christmas Market. In 2007 the band was featured on TG4's Síle programme from the market, in 2008 the band performed on TV3's Ireland AM from the Mansion House as part of a promotion for the Christmas market and in 2010 the band featured on RTÉ One's O'Gorman at the market, with the bands music also used throughout the programme. The band also appeared on RTÉ Two's The Road to Croker when one of their members, Eugene Tully, was featured on the show.

In 1977 the band appeared in the final scene of the film The Purple Taxi (Un Taxi Mauve) with Peter Ustinov, Fred Astaire & Charlotte Rampling, shot on location on Dún Laoghaire Pier. They performed a piece called the Foggy Dew. The sides of the bandstand had to be removed for the ferry to be seen behind, also making it very cold for the players, who were sitting there for several hours during filming!

Recordings
The band recorded its first ever CD in 2012, entitled "Christmas Favourites". The CD contains several Christmas tunes recorded by the band including Mary's Boy Child and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.

Notable Performances

 * 1843 – In August it is said the band marched to the Hill of Tara and back, on the occasion of Daniel O’Connell’s Monster Repeal meeting when it was reputed that over a million people were present.
 * 1952 – The band provided the music at the wedding of Lady Edina Ainsworth to Hans Wellesley Hamilton, the second Lord Holmpatrick, on the lawn of Abbotstown House.
 * 1966 – The band headed the Old IRA veterans into O’Connell Street during the 50th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
 * 1979 – On the occasion of the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland, the band led the procession of people coming from the west of the City to the Mass in the Phoenix Park. Over half a million people attended the Mass on that day.
 * 1990 – Played at the official opening of the Westlink Toll Bridge over the River Liffey.
 * 1993 – Fr. Michael Clearys Funeral.
 * 2001 – Official opening of Farmleigh House, Knockmaroon (renovated Government residence & formally Lord Iveaghs estate).
 * 2004 – Performed at the PATS Award to Johnny Logan in the Burlington Hotel. Other performers included Sonny Knowles, Cathy Nugent & George Murphy.
 * 2005 – Played at Tsunami Benefit Concert in National Basketball Arena, Tallaght with a number of other local bands.
 * 2007 – Some members of the band played at the Dominican Orders 800th anniversary celebrations in the National Concert Hall.
 * 2012 – Band performed at Carrickmacross Festival and Balbriggan Summerfest as part of "Brass the Baton", an official event of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Five different coloured batons were passed from band to band across the UK and Ireland like a relay, with the Green baton coming to Blanchardstown.
 * 2012 – Opening ceremony of 2012 FIPPA World Cup of Pitch & Putt, Royal Meath Pitch & Putt Course, Clonee.

Competitions

 * In October 2004 the band came first in the ‘Unregistered Section’ of the 21st South East Regional Brass and Reed Bands’ competition in Arklow, Co. Wicklow.
 * In July 2013 the band took part in the 34th South of Ireland Band Championships in Clonakilty, Co. Cork.