The band was originally called the Artane Boys Band, with members drawn from the pupils at Artane Industrial School, an industrial school which closed in 1969.[3] Its name changed to "Artane Band" in 2004 when girls were first admitted.[4]
History
Foundation and ethos
The band was formed in 1872 and first performed in public in 1874 for the visiting Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.[5]
The band performed outside Ireland for the first time at the London Exhibition of 1884,[6] and visited Aberdeen in 1888 as part of the Irish Exhibition. The band also played for Queen Victoria during her visit to the industrial school in 1900 and performed for King George V in 1911 during his visit to Maynooth College even playing "God Save the King".[7] The band has also played for US Presidents Kennedy, Nixon[8] and Clinton during their state visits to Ireland.[9]
The GAA invited the band to play at 1947 All Ireland Football Final at the Polo Grounds, New York, after which they went on to play in Boston.[12] The band also played at Wembley Stadium in London in 1957 when it hosted its first GAA matches.[13]
In 1966, the band played at a pageant in Croke Park hosted by the GAA and members of the band performed in Kilmainham Gaol as part of the commemorations of the 1916 Rising.[citation needed]
Artane Industrial School allegations
Allegations of historical child abuse at Artane Industrial School were publicised in the 1990s and confirmed by the 2009 report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse.[3] However, the commission's report said the band had been a positive experience for its members.[4] There were calls for the band to change its name to break the association with the discredited institution.[3] As of 2016, the band management regarded its name as relating to the Artane district and not the defunct industrial school.[3]
Later activities
The school moved to its the old refectory building following a fire in 1969, which also damaged uniforms, instruments, and music scripts. The band was helped resume with donations from the GAA, donations of music (and arrangements) from other bands including the US Navy and Marine Corps bands.[14]
In 1993, the band led the first Moscow St. Patrick's Day Parade.[9] The band has also performed with include Bing Crosby, Neil Diamond, Finbar Wright and Frank Patterson.[9]
1998 saw the GAA join the board of management of the school, with the foundation of the Artane School of Music Trust, and in 2002 girls join the bands for the first time.[15]
In 2009, the school was awarded the Dublin Lord Mayors award for its services to the community by Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne.[16] and also played at the Oxegen 2009 music festival.[4]
In 2011, the band performed during Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Croke Park.[17] 2015 saw the establishment of the Artane Youth Choir for secondary school students,[citation needed] and the adult Artane Community Choir.[18] In 2016 the organisation celebrated its "130 year partnership" with the GAA.[19] In 2018, following "extensive renovations", the hall was officially reopened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Nial Ring.[20]
In 2023, before the funeral of Shane MacGowan, the band played a number of his songs as they led a procession of his coffin through the streets of Dublin.[citation needed]
Other groups and activities
The Artane Senior Band was founded in 1988 to provide former youth members with the option to continue playing.[21] Since 2000, the band has also welcomed adults who had not previously been youth members of the Artane Band.[21]
Since 2003, the Artane School of Music has provided instrument and vocal tuition to students on the performance module of the undergraduate degree in music at the DCU Mater Dei Centre.[22]
The Artane School of Music Annual Showcase is a concert performed every year. In 2019, the annual showcase event was held in the National Concert Hall.[23]
^Rouse, Paul (Spring–Summer 2008). "A Day Out in Dublin at the Hurling: The All-Ireland Hurling Final 2005, Cork vs. Galway". Éire-Ireland. 43 (1–2): 205–221. doi:10.1353/eir.0.0006.