Artane Boys Band: why in GAA matches?

Rebelheart

Watching brass bands at the parades on tv this evening, it just confirmed that I can't abide that big band music with its lack of distinction and sophistication. To me, it's just unrefined noise, be it the Glenn Miller Orchestra or military brass bands.

I have always found the Artane Boys Band to be culturally like a fish out of water at GAA matches - an import from the British military tradition (of all traditions) without a tradition in Irish society. In what year did they first start playing at GAA matches and why were they chosen by the GAA over traditional bands?



PS: Totally unrelated, but I just watched Reeling in the Years a moment ago and in 1970 the first 80-minute All-Ireland Football Final was played between Kerry and Meath. When did it change to 70-minute matches? I surmise it changed because the players were knackered?

Hammer Archer

I'd be of the opposite opinion to be honest. I quite enjoy the Artane Band (they do have girls in it now) before matches. Much better than Jedward or the Rubberbandits or just blaring random crap music out the PA system.

As for the 80 minute games, as far as I know they were done away with as it was too tiring for players. They were used to playing 60 minute games in club and intercounty games and it was just too much to ask of them so 70 minute intercounty games were introduced.
Though the 80 minute games did bring some classic games supposedly. In that year, Meath beat Offaly 2-22 to 5-12 in the Leinster final.

Rebelheart

Hammer Archer wrote: »

As for the 80 minute games, as far as I know they were done away with as it was too tiring for players. They were used to playing 60 minute games in club and intercounty games and it was just too much to ask of them so 70 minute intercounty games were introduced.
Though the 80 minute games did bring some classic games supposedly. In that year, Meath beat Offaly 2-22 to 5-12 in the Leinster final.

Interesting. In other words in 1970 all matches, club and county in both codes, went from 60 minutes to 80 minutes and then back to 70 minutes some time later? Adding a further 20 minutes to that in one go in 1970 seems like an awful lot. You'd think they'd have phased it in.

Hammer Archer

Rebelheart wrote: »

Interesting. In other words in 1970 all matches, club and county in both codes, went from 60 minutes to 80 minutes and then back to 70 minutes some time later? Adding a further 20 minutes to that in one go in 1970 seems like an awful lot. You'd think they'd have phased it in.

I think it was just intercounty games that were increased. Club games were, and still are, 60 minutes long.

Clareman

Rebelheart wrote: »

I have always found the Artane Boys Band to be culturally like a fish out of water at GAA matches - an import from the British military tradition (of all traditions) without a tradition in Irish society.

Always remember that the reason that the lads beside the posts are called what they're called and wear the coats is because Mr. Cusack was impressed with cricket.

panda100

Brass bands to me are synonymous with summertime and the anticipation of a really good match. I was at the international band parade in Limerick yesterday, and each time one walked by I was transported to the excitement and buzz of county final day on a glorious sunny day. I think its one GAA tradition that should stay.

clunked

Rebelheart wrote: »

Watching brass bands at the parades on tv this evening, it just confirmed that I can't abide that big band music with its lack of distinction and sophistication. To me, it's just unrefined noise, be it the Glenn Miller Orchestra or military brass bands.

I have always found the Artane Boys Band to be culturally like a fish out of water at GAA matches - an import from the British military tradition (of all traditions) without a tradition in Irish society. In what year did they first start playing at GAA matches and why were they chosen by the GAA over traditional bands?

Pray tell, what might you describe as refined noise????

D_Man_22

panda100 wrote: »

Brass bands to me are synonymous with summertime and the anticipation of a really good match. I was at the international band parade in Limerick yesterday, and each time one walked by I was transported to the excitement and buzz of county final day on a glorious sunny day. I think its one GAA tradition that should stay.

I second that motion!
It's become a tradition at matches in Croke Park now, it gives a great atmosphere because when they play you know it's an important game!

mylovelyhorse

You might be surprised to hear that the Band predates the GAA.
The Band was formed in 1872 at the Artane Industrial School-In 1886 the band accepted an invitation to play at the Whit Monday games of the fledgling Gaelic Athletic Association at the North Circular Road grounds, and began an association which endures to the present day.
I was in Boston in 2009 at the North American Finals in Canton- where the Band played as guests- and the amount of people who were openly emotional as the Band led the parade of teams around the field was testament to why they are still very much part of Irish culture, and yes, they play Martial music-but many of the marches they play are Irish composed, and carry on a tradition that is hundreds of years old.

Jake Rugby Walrus666

la la la la la, na na na na na na na,
na la da na na na na na na na na drum roll ...etc


That's my personal favorite of their stuff.

The Lopper

Traditionally it would be a pipe band rather than a brass band such as the Artane Band, for Munster Championship matches anyways. Miles better than playing pop music or whatever else over the PA anyways. And it is how the national anthem should be played, rather than the farce that we had in the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night. Some people give out stink about the GAA for not providing entertainment at half time at matches, but there has always been either pipe music or Primary Game matches or a free-for-all with loads of young fellas pucking balls about the pitch or the rather interesting sight on Saturday again where what looked like a group a group of American teenagers were out on the pitch recording Brian Geary displaying the skills of the ancient game on their camera phones as the subs were out on the pitch pucking about at half time. There's always the first half to review and the second half to ponder.

padd b1975

Hammer Archer wrote: »

I think it was just intercounty games that were increased. Club games were, and still are, 60 minutes long.

National League matches up until quite recently were 60 minute affairs.

StupidLikeAFox

I going to make a completely baseless guess that the brass band was chosen as it could make enough noise to be heard around the stadium before there were PA systems

mylovelyhorse

Jake Rugby Walrus666 wrote: »

la la la la la, na na na na na na na,
na la da na na na na na na na na drum roll ...etc


That's my personal favorite of their stuff.

ha ha!- I know- lets push uillean pipers around in wheelchairs-that would be a great parade of teams!

Paparazzo

Hammer Archer wrote: »

I'd be of the opposite opinion to be honest. I quite enjoy the Artane Band (they do have girls in it now) before matches. Much better than Jedward or the Rubberbandits or just blaring random crap music out the PA system.

As for the 80 minute games, as far as I know they were done away with as it was too tiring for players. They were used to playing 60 minute games in club and intercounty games and it was just too much to ask of them so 70 minute intercounty games were introduced.
Though the 80 minute games did bring some classic games supposedly. In that year, Meath beat Offaly 2-22 to 5-12 in the Leinster final.

Come on, the options aren't a brass band or Jedward!
A pipe band would be amazing.

mylovelyhorse

ColHol wrote: »

I going to make a completely baseless guess that the brass band was chosen as it could make enough noise to be heard around the stadium before there were PA systems

You could be right! there was a saying that the artane boys could take the paint off a garage door at 400 yards!

mylovelyhorse

Paparazzo wrote: »

Come on, the options aren't a brass band or Jedward!
A pipe band would be amazing.

sorry have to disagree!- pipe bands are very limited-yes they would have some good tunes/marches, but nothing can beat the boys and girls in blue and scarlet!

Paparazzo

mylovelyhorse wrote: »

sorry have to disagree!- pipe bands are very limited-yes they would have some good tunes/marches, but nothing can beat the boys and girls in blue and scarlet!

Check out a scotland game in Murrayfield. Flower of Scotland on the bagpipes is 100 times better than anything the artane boys band/garda band do.

Obviously it's all subjective. You might like brass bands. I perfer pipe. Sound generated by 100 pipers and drummers is great

mylovelyhorse

Have to agree-
Murrayfield or Cardiff stadium at rugby internationals are fantastic occasions- and yes pipe bands have their place!
- but Amhrán na bhFiann played by the Artane Band has its own power-and I think they play it the best- the army no.1 and Garda band are great- but the kids are better!- and so much better than that travesty of Ireland's call- every time I hear it I cringe!

shockframe

The Pipe Band playing the national anthem just before the start of a Munster championship game is a joy to behold.no other type of music for big games comes close.I would go so far as to say it should be introduced for the all ireland final.

mylovelyhorse

No thanks!
By all means have the cat squeezers at the provincials! but no-one does all Ireland like the Artane band!

StephenHendry

its all part of the tradition, especially for the AIs, take or leave him i say.

Flukey

82,300 people packed into Croke Park. Thousands of people chatting and cheering, a cacophony of noise. Then, for just a few seconds, silence suddenly descends on the whole place. Then in unison, this happens...

Click here.

There is nothing like it.

Cork boy 55

What are the names of the songs that they play on the pre-match parade
there is one real catchly up tempo one that is cool but I cannot identifty

MrJoeSoap

If there's a more spine-tingling moment in all of sport than this moment every year, I've yet to experience it. Thurles on Munster Hurling Final day is like Mecca during the Hajj.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu_uGzCUui8

Frankie Lee

Just a petty grievance but I can never understand why someone would bring the flag of American racism to a GAA match.

MrJoeSoap

Frankie Lee wrote: »

Just a petty grievance but I can never understand why someone would bring the flag of American racism to a GAA match.

That's Cork fans for ya! :P

nlgbbbblth

Rebelheart wrote: »

PS: Totally unrelated, but I just watched Reeling in the Years a moment ago and in 1970 the first 80-minute All-Ireland Football Final was played between Kerry and Meath. When did it change to 70-minute matches? I surmise it changed because the players were knackered?

80 minute games were run over five years (1970 - 1974)
They just applied to provincial finals, All Ireland semi finals and All Ireland finals.

Brendan Lynch (Kerry) won

All Ireland 1969 (60 minute final)
All Ireland 1970 (80 minute final)
All Ireland 1975 (70 minute final)