Marching Band On Song

THE Tallaght Marching Band is currently looking to recruit new members.The Band has a shared history going back decades, as is an amalgamation of the Tallaght Youth Band and Tallaght Festival Band, both founded in 1977 and 1983 respectively, writes Ryan Butler.

The two merged to become the Tallaght Marching Band in 2018.

They feature both musicians and dancers performing together for events such as St Patrick’s Day and the Rose Of Tralee as part of the Irish Marching Band Association circuit from February to September each year.

Meanwhile, WintersFestival, consisting of dancers, takes place on an indoor circuit both in the UK, through Winter Guard UK, and Ireland, through the IMBA, from January to April.

Classes for the Band are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays.

Monday’s classes teach music theory and dance basics, Tuesday is for the dancers, Wednesday is for the musicians, and Sunday is when they all rehearse together.

According to TMB Guard Director and Events Coordinator, Brennagh McGuinness, “There is a lot that would happen in the background with show designers and music composers”.

The performers would also learn 3–4 songs per show, and use movement to make shapes and effects wherever they were rehearsing or performing.

Brennagh states that “On the 17th of September, we will be taking part in the IMBA finals in Tallaght Leisure Centre.”

Following this, they will take a week’s break before reconvening to discuss ideas for the next show as well as planning for St Patrick’s Day 2024.

The WintersFestival is also working on their 2024 production, which will be performed for the first time in Stoke-on-Trent in January.

Brennagh would like to thank the former and current committees and staff teams for helping the TMB get to this point.