In recognition of their popularity at last year’s concert, the Athlone Pipe Band will perform again at this year’s Samaritan Christmas Concert.
On the night of the concert they will be performing two pieces, Amazing Grace and Highland Cathedral, with the Army Band of the 2nd Brigade, as well as their own individual pieces.
The annual Samaritan concert takes place on Thursday December 11 in the Franciscan Friary, Athlone at 8pm.
Athlone Pipe Band has been in the town since the early 1900s. It was known as St Mary’s Pipe Band in the 1940s and they were present at the official opening of Pairc Ciaran. The band played at the infamous AC Milan and Athlone Town football match in 1975.
The current band was reformed in 2009 by Paula Sullivan. It has 22 members -14 pipers and eight drummers. They play at various functions, both locally and nationally, and they hope to be performing at the St Patrick’s Festival in America in 2015. The pipe major is David Kelly, an Army Sergeant based in Athlone.
The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on freephone 116 123 for anyone who is troubled, despairing, or just needs to talk to someone in confidence. They can also be emailed at [email protected].
