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| History |
It was in 1971 that a few members of St Peter’s G.A.A. Club Committee began to wonder if it might be possible to resurrect the band and base it in the club as a club band. They got a positive response from their colleagues and within weeks negotiations began with the I.N.F. Committee. They did not take long to complete, for to say the least the Foresters were magnanimous and co-operative.
When the Foresters got the instruments some ten years previously they had been second hand from an English Police Band and had seen a good bit of use. They had lain in the club for over three years and some were in poor shape. To bring them to a playable state and to concert pitch cost much more than the Foresters received for them.
Getting a conductor for the band was the next hurdle, and it was felt that Andrew Tohill was the best man to approach. Andy was enthusiastic about reforming the band but suggested that Auguste Torremans be invited to act as conductor. This was done, Mr Torremans accepted and with Andy as Bandmaster practices commenced in January 1972. The first public appearance was a concert in Warrenpoint Town Hall on St Patrick’s night 1972. It would be true to say that most of the players were former members of the I.N.F. Band but even in these early months; Andrew Tohill had a number of young people under tuition. Over the next ten years there were subsequent graduates from Andy’s school of music.
In the second year of its existence the band began to compete at the National Championships and substituted for The Artane Boy’s band at Croke Park on the occasion of the Tyrone-Cork All Ireland Football Semi-Final.
Concerts, marches, church parades became the order of the day and the local feis provided the relaxed competitive edge. The first National Intermediate title was won in 1975 with Auguste Torremans conducting and the feat was repeated with Andy Tohill as conductor in 1981.
Many of these bandsmen went on to excel musically, two in particular spring to mind Peter Grant and Seamus Dinsmore. Both went on to study music at the Guild Hall School of Music London. Peter became the Musical Director of the band in the mid-80 and was later Conductor of the Newry & Mourne Orchestra. It was during his time at the helm that Peter Grant as the conductor of the band returned to lift the title in the Intermediate Grade in 1984.That particular year there was a bonus with the success, for it earned an appearance in The National concert Hall at the Prize Winner’s Concert later that year. With family and business commitments forced Peter to scale down his musical involvement.
Seamus Dinsmore followed as the Bands Musical Director until 1996 when family commitments and the extensive travelling from his home in Portadown ended his 23 years of involvement with the band. Seamus subsequently went on to be appointed Head of Brass with the Music Service of the Southern Education and Library Board.
In the late 90’s the signs of strain became apparent. Players getting older, moving away to work the intake of new players diminishing all combined to make things difficult. From June 1999 until September 2002 the Band was without a Musical Director. A hard-core of members continued to come together to play music. The Band although at a low ebb was down but not quite out! The hard-core consisted of seven players and they participated in community events such as the International Maiden of the Mournes Festival and the annual Community Carol service along with Warrenpoint Silver Band. This small group continued to play at the annual Carol Service in St Peter’s Catholic Church, Warrenpoint.
The Chairman of the band asked Andy Tohill if he would become the band’s Musical Director and he accepted the post in September 2002.Since September the numbers of players have risen from seven to fourteen and it looked like many more would join as time went on.
In May 2004 saw the handover of the new instruments and the band looked
forward to a new era. The band had a special night in St.Peters Clubrooms
to thank all the sponsors and Benefactors who helped towards the raising
of the band’s contribution for the Lottery Funding.
The Band set up a new six person committee with some younger members to look forward towards a new era of St.Peters G.A.A. Band.
The new committee talked about the setting up of a beginner’s group for young people. Under guidance from Andy it commenced in September 2004 with members from the senior band giving their time and experience to teach the young people. From this beginner group three young people have progressed into the senior band, which is a credit to the youngsters themselves and their tutor’s.
The Band did themselves proud when in February 2005 they took first place in Warrenpoint Feis.
The
Band is still growing and the numbers have now increased to twenty two
which is great for the future success of St.Peters G.A.A. Band.