Exhibition recalls Band of the Curragh Command and foundation of Defence Forces School of Music
An exhibition of photographs and memorabilia to mark the Centenary of the Defence Forces School of Music will open this evening (Thursday 2 November 2023) in the offices of Kildare County Council at Devoy Park, Naas, writes Brian Byrne.
Organised by a retired member of the Band of the Curragh Command, PJ Lydon of Kilcullen, the exhibition — focused on the Curragh band and the foundation of the School of Music at the Curragh — will be opened by the Assistant Director of the School, Cmdt Fergal Carroll, at 7pm this evening. The presentation is located on Level 2 of Áras Chill Dara, and is open to the public to view for the next two weeks.
As part of the Centenary, five concerts have been scheduled through this year, and the last of these will be in St Brigid's Church, The Curragh, on Sunday 26 November 2023. Among the guests will be surviving members of the Band of the Curragh Command, which was disbanded in 2002 and amalgamated with the Dublin Command Band. Their attendance is supported by Kildare County Council.
The foundation of the School and of the Command bands came through the interest of the then Minister of Defence in 1923, General Richard Mulcahy. Through his friendship with Denis McCullough of the McCullough Pigott music shop, two German musicians — Fritz Brase and Christian Sauerzweig — were brought to Ireland to establish the School, and given the ranks of Colonel and Captain respectively.
The School was initially set up in a former military HQ on the Green Road, The Curragh, and the first volunteer music students gave their debut recital in the presence of General Mulcahy two months later, and were given the designation Army No 1 Band. The following year the School and the No 1 Band were moved to Dublin, and subsequently three more Command bands were established, in Cork (No 2), the Curragh Camp (No 3) and Athlone (No 4).
The Band of the Curragh Command (subsequently the Band of the Curragh Training Camp) had many distinguished members through its history, including Superintendent TJ Boyle who became Musical Director of the Garda Siochana Band, and Capt Dermot O'Hara who later became conductor of the Radio Eireann Orchestra. Very fondly remembered is Comdt Denis Mellerick, who retired in 1987 after having conducted the band through 35 years. His successor was Capt Pat Dermody, who had previously served with the Garda Band. After him came Capt Joe Ryan, and the last leader before it was disbanded was Capt Mark Armstrong.
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