Here’s an old photo, from the mid 1940s, of the seventeen members of Emmet’s AOH Pipe Band from Tirgarvil, near Upperlands. Brother Patsy McEldowney is in the front row.
Band Members:
Back Row: Frank Brennan, Willie John McGowan, Pat McPeake, Denis McShane, Seamus McFlynn, Patsy McGuckin & Nat Carowood
Middle Row: Tommy McCusker, Arthur Brennan & Gerry McGrath
Front Row: Micky Bradley, John McFalone, John McCusker, Patsy McEldowney, Mick Hegarty, Danny McCusker & Eddie McGuckin
I found an old newspaper article from the Mid-Ulster Mail, Saturday 9 August 1947, which lists Patsy McEldowney (seen above) as the President of Tirgarvil, and talks of a church parade in Ballinderry on Sunday 3rd August, which Patsy’s Tirgarvil band took part in. It was “beautiful summer weather”.
The photograph above was taken at Greenlough Music Festival in 1949/1950.
The Emmet’s Pipe Band were just winning the cup at the festival. So they were in high spirits when this picture was taken.
Back Row: John Convery & Nat Carowood
Middle Row: Willie John McGowan, Willie Hunter, Jamie Gilmore, Pat McPeake, blank & blank
Front Row: George Bradley, Denis McShane, Patsy McEldowney, John McCusker,
Pat Bradley, Danny McCusker & Patsy Mulholland
National Hall in Maghera
Below is an extremely old photo of the band, taken in 1905. Tirgarvil band are standing outside the National Hall in Maghera.
Back row: Michael Diamond, John Heaney, Arthur Brennan, Patrick McCusker, John Criag, James Kearney, ..McKenna, James McEldowney, Terence Hannoway.
2nd Row: Hugh Bradley, James McShane, Patrick Ferris, Patrick O’Kane, James O’Kane, James Brennan, Charles Bradley, Unknown.
3rd Row: John O’Neill, ? Devlin, ? O’Neill, Tom McAlary, M. Quigg, Bernard O’Kane, Joe O’Neill, Mick Crilly, P McNicholl, George Bradley, Patrick McShane, Mary Bradley, Sarah A McCusker, Mary O’Neill, Thomas McCusker, Frank McCann.
Front Row: Andrew Hegarty, Alec McLean, Joe Hegarty, Patrick Judge, Joe Convery, Mick Bradley, Bernard Bradley, John Ferris, Joe O’Neill, Charles McLarnon, Frank O’Kane, Charles O’Neill, Joseph Brennan, J Gribben.
On Wednesday evening, November 1st 1911, Division 171 held their annual concert and ball. The large new hall was filled to its utmost capacity by an enthusiastic audience. Brother Charles Bradley occupied tho chair during the concert part of the night’s entertainment.
The programme’s first item, was the new and popular rallying song of the Order, “Hurrah, for the A.0.H.,” sung Mr. F. O’Kane, Miss Bradley, and Miss Annie Cassidy, which was received with great applause. Other artistes who contributed were — Bro. Patrick McShane, Bro. J. Lagan, Mr. Frank McNamee, Bro. Charles Bradley, and Bro. James O’Kane. The singing of a Gaelic song by Miss Cassie Mellon, who is promising young singer, brought the concert part of the proceedings to a close.
The second part of the show opened with a very funny farce, entitled “Turn Him Out,” produced by the Tirgarvil Amateur Dramatic Club, which since its inception, a few years previously, holds the distinction of being one of the finest amateur clubs in the district, if not in the whole of South Derry.
The following gentlemen and ladies represented the different characters in the play in a manner that left nothing to desired:—Messrs. A. Brennan. B. Bradley, G. Bradley, P. Ferris, B. Diamond, and Misses Cassidy and Bradley. The next item was a comedy entitled “The Happy Man,” by Lover. The following excellent gentlemen and ladies represented the different characters:— Brothers F. O’Kane, J. O’Neill, P. McShane. P. Ferris, B. Diamond. G. Bradley, Miss Cassie Bradley, and Miss Annie Cassidy.
Afterwards the whole company, which numbered more than 200, had their supper at the home of Mrs. Atkinson, who in providing the catering was very ably assisted by a large number of ladies and stewards, who performed their duties in a manner that left no room for complaint.
The dance was opened an Irish jig, followed by four reels, six, eights, and the Rinnce Fada. Brother P. Ferris acted as Master of Ceremonies.
At the end of the night’s entertainment, the President of the division, Brother Brennan, gave thanks on behalf of the committee and himself for the good order and decorum that prevailed throughout the night. The music was supplied by Brothers M. Mellon and J. Porter.
Based on media articles of the time, November 1911
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