FERMANAGH CONCERT BAND RETURNS TO BALLYSHANNON

On Saturday 18 February our long-awaited return to the Abbey Centre at Ballyshannon occurred.  We first played there a couple of years ago, on what must have been one of the hottest evenings in Irish history.  Spending most of a performance worrying about what will happen if half the band faints on stage must be a great concentrator of the mind, because somehow we gave one of our most successful concerts – so much so that we were immediately asked to play at the Abbey again.  We were delighted to agree but all kinds of technical hitches intervened, meaning that although we were scheduled to give a Christmas performance in December last year, the gig had to be postponed.

But, all good things are worth the wait and we finally made it back on a very, very cold February night (but the auditorium was still extremely toasty – they must have a very efficient heating system at the Abbey!).  We shared the night with Ballyshannon Brass and Reed Band, who took the first half of the concert while we signed off the evening with the second half.  On this occasion we branched out a bit repertoire-wise, programming several pieces that require solo or solo-ish spots by various band members.  Very nervous-making, but we pulled it off and yes, we’ve been invited back again, hopefully for a Christmas concert that will really take place this year.