| Biography | The Artane Boys Band was founded in 1872 by Brother Alphonsus Hoope, Superior of the Artane Industrial School, which had been established three years earlier. They gave their first public performance on the grounds of the school for the Prince of Wales (Edward VII) two years later.
The band has toured the USA on seven occasions, as well as trips to Toronto, Canada, Moscow, and has also travelled extensively around both Ireland, and the UK. They have played for every President and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, as well as Presidents Kennedy, Nixon and Clinton of the USA. The Band are no strangers to royalty either, having played for Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V and most recently, on the occasion of the state visit to Ireland by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh to Croke Park. They have also shared a stage with performers such as Perry Como, Neil Diamond, U2, and James Last, as well as the Boston Pops Orchestra. More recently, the Artane Band was asked to open the Oxegen Festival with up and coming rock band, The Brilliant Things.
It is perhaps through their performances in Croke Park, the Home of Gaelic Games, that the band is best known, although this makes up less than half their public performances throughout the year. Their scarlet and blue uniforms are considered to be an integral part of big match days and with the arrival of Soccer and Rugby international match days to Croke Park, the reputation of the Band has led to them being invited to join both the Army and Garda (Police) Bands as part of the formalities at these occasions.
In 1998 the Artane Boys Band expanded to become the Artane School of Music, and increased the range of musical opportunities available to both boys and girls. 2002 saw the first intake of girls into the band itself, and just two years later, on Sunday October 17th saw the first ever performance of the renamed Artane Band, including 19 girls at the International Rules Match in Croke Park. |