We are one of Dublin's oldest and friendliest bands. The Band was founded in 1936, in the Dublin parish of St. George's by past members of the 14th Dublin Company of the Boys' Brigade. The Band's first concert was on 5 February 1937, in the Metropolitan Hall in Abbey Street. The following day the Irish Times wrote "If the band holds together, it seems destined to have a very successful future." We're still together after 74 years, entertaining the public.
In 1953 & 1954 the Band performed Handel's Messiah with the Georgian Choir. Original compositions have been written for the Band and broadcast on RTÉ Radio Eireann. St. George's has competed and achieved places of distinction in competitions in Bellvue (Manchester), Belfast and Dublin. Individual members have won gold and silver medals in the solo brass sections of Feis Ceoil throughout the years.
Another feature of the Band's life has been the wide variety of engagements carried out. These include church services, indoor concerts, garden fetes, vintage car shows, the Botanical Gardens, international football matches, public parks, yacht clubs and the National Concert Hall. During one Sunday in 1999 the Band travelled to Belfast International Airport to play a charity concert, returning to repeat the programme at Dublin Airport that evening.
During the last weekend in October 2002, a party of Band members and friends visited Prestatyn for the Pontins Brass Band Championships. This has now become a regular trip, attending the Championships each year since.
During October 2003, the Band engaged Mr. Dennis Wilby (conductor, composer, arranger, and adjudicator) to coach the Band over a weekend. This was such a success with the Band members that we invited Dennis back again in October 2004 for another weekend of tuition.
Over the past 15 years we have welcomed and organised concerts with nine bands from Scotland, England, Wales and America who travelled to Dublin. These were the Bon Accord Band, The Burtle Band, the Enderby Band, the Towcester Band, the Wilton & District Band, Jericho Brass (from Chattanooga), Newtown Silver Band (Wales), Trinity Girls Brass Band (UK) and Leichardt Celebrity Brass (Australia).
Our present conductor, Mr. P.J. Regan, is only the Band's fourth conductor since its foundation, by Mr. C. G. Bannister in 1936. He has a wealth of experience in the brass band movement, having trained and conducted many bands in Ireland throughout his career. Among his many other talents are music arranging, playing the French Horn and playing the organ. He can also play all of the instruments in a brass band, which is very useful when teaching beginners. Mr. Regan, (Jack), became conductor in 1980 and has contributed in no small way to the rebuilding of the Band to its present 33 players. We rehearse every Monday 8-10 p.m. just off Dublin's O'Connell Street. We are mainly adult players, beginners are also taught on Monday evenings before rehearsal.
We are currently a band playing purely for pleasure. Of course, we accept payments and donations for our engagements.
