Latest news with #DroghedaBrassBand
The Irish Sun
38 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Heartache as ‘loving' Irish dad-of-three dies ‘unexpectedly' in Wales & tributes pour for ‘very lovely young man'
TRIBUTES are being paid to a "loving" Irish dad-of-three who died "unexpectedly" in Wales last month. Ian McCormack, a 32-year-old originally from Drogheda Advertisement His family shared a heartfelt death notice describing him as a devoted It reads: "Ian Mc Cormack, Abercynon, Wales (formerly of North Road, Drogheda), unexpectedly at the age of 32 on 14 May 2025. "Loving dad to Ellie, Myri and Ciarán; beloved son of Brendan and Theresa, and dear brother to Martin." The notice added: "Ian will be sadly missed by all his family, including Steph, Emma and José; also by his relatives and friends in Wales and Ireland." Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS News of the dad's death has left both Ian was known for his And the band have since paid their respects and shared fond memories on social media. They said: "All at Drogheda Brass Band were saddened to hear of the passing of our former trombone player Ian McCormack suddenly in Wales. Advertisement MOST READ IN IRISH NEWS Exclusive "We remember him fondly from his time with us, most especially at the European Brass Band Championships in Oostende, Belgium, in 2009. "Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time. Rest in peace." Friends, neighbours and others who knew Ian have also recalled the honesty and warmth he brought into their lives. One friend said: "Dear Martin and Family, though I haven't met you all, I've known Martin for a long time and am grateful to call him my true friend. Advertisement "I was deeply saddened to hear about your loss. Losing someone so young is incredibly hard, and my thoughts are with you all, especially the children, during this difficult time. "Martin's honesty, strength, and kindness reflect the family he comes from. I hope you find comfort and support in one another as you navigate this. "Please know you're in my thoughts and if there's anything I can do to help, just let me know." FUNERAL DETAILS Another friend wrote: "To Martin and the whole family, my deepest condolences with the loss of Ian. Advertisement "To lose someone who was a father, a son and a brother is devastating. I hope the whole family can find comfort and support with each other through these difficult times." A third commented: "We were very sad to hear this news. Ian was a very lovely young man. Thinking of his family at this tragic time." He will be reposing at Townley's Funeral Home in Drogheda this Wednesday, from 3pm to 7pm. Ian's Funeral Mass is scheduled for Thursday at 11:30am in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, followed by burial at Newtown Cross Lawns Cemetery. Advertisement Those who can't be there in person will still be able to watch the service live at . 1 Ian McCormack sadly passed away in Wales last week Credit:
Irish Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tributes pour in for young Irish dad-of-three who died unexpectedly in Wales
Heartbreaking tributes have been paid to a young father-of-three from Co Louth who died suddenly in Wales last month. Ian McCormack, from Drogheda, passed away "unexpectedly" in Abercynon on May 14 at the age of 32. A death notice shared by his family remembered Ian as a "loving dad to Ellie, Myri and Ciarán; beloved son of Brendan and Theresa, and dear brother to Martin". "Ian will be sadly missed by all his family, including Steph, Emma and José; also by his relatives and friends in Wales and Ireland," the notice added. Ian's sudden death has caused shock and heartbreak among his friends and family in both Wales and Ireland, with emotional tributes pouring in for the popular father-of-three. Ian was a talented musician who played trombone in the Drogheda Brass Band before he moved to Wales, with the group posting a tribute to their former member online. "All at Drogheda Brass Band were saddened to hear of the passing of our former trombone player Ian McCormack suddenly in Wales," they wrote in a message shared on social media. "We remember him fondly from his time with us, most especially at the European Brass Band Championships in Oostende, Belgium, in 2009. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time. Rest in peace." Friends and neighbours have also paid tribute to the Drogheda native, who has been remembered for the 'honesty, strength, and kindness' he showed to others throughout his life. A close friend of Martin's said: "Dear Martin and Family, though I haven't met you all, I've known Martin for a long time and am grateful to call him my true friend. I was deeply saddened to hear about your loss. Losing someone so young is incredibly hard, and my thoughts are with you all, especially the children, during this difficult time. "Martin's honesty, strength, and kindness reflect the family he comes from. I hope you find comfort and support in one another as you navigate this. Please know you're in my thoughts and if there's anything I can do to help, just let me know." Another mourner said: "We were very sad to hear this news. Ian was a very lovely young man. Thinking of his family at this tragic time." While a third person said: "To Martin and the whole family, my deepest condolences with the loss of Ian. To lose someone who was a father, a son and a brother is devastating. I hope the whole family can find comfort and support with each other through these difficult times." Ian will lie in repose in Townley's Funeral Home in Drogheda on Wednesday from 3pm until 7pm. His Funeral Mass will take place on Thursday at 11:30am in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Drogheda, with burial afterwards in Newtown Cross Lawns Cemetery. Mourners unable to attend the funeral mass can be view the ceremony live on
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Drogheda Arts Festival to celebrate 'power of creativity'
Drogheda Arts Festival kicks off tonight with a line up of live music, exhibitions and street performances scheduled to take place over the long weekend. The three-day event will feature a selection of renowned and emerging artists from various disciplines, including visual arts, theatre and music. Organisers have said this year's edition of the annual event will bring a "dynamic and diverse array of performances and entertainment designed to engage and inspire people of all ages". The festival opens this evening with the launch of artist Liam O'Callaghan's 'Bit Symphony' exhibition in the Former Methodist Church in the town. The exhibition is described as an "audio-visual installation consisting of an assemblage of turntables, amplifiers and speakers, reconfigured and manipulated so as to autonomously perform a complex musical composition of looping records". The festival's 'Big Day Out' at Scotch Hall tomorrow afternoon will be one of the highlights of the weekend. From 1pm, there will be family fun and entertainment, including music by the Drogheda Brass Band, the Blue Belles and up-and-coming jazz-electronic duo BBFT. Meanwhile, 'The Walk, Talk and Chalk Tour' with Little Twit creator and artist Caoimhe McCarthy will explore the history of Drogheda. Organisers have said the tour will "guide you through the process of creating your own images and give you a piece of Drogheda to take home". There will also be plenty of night-time events taking place over the weekend, including 'Night Moves' at Droichead Arts Centre, a late-night club featuring Navan musician Oisín Leech with support from Dotts O'Connor. The Co-Ordinator of Drogheda Arts Festival Brenda McComeskey said the organising committee worked hard to curate a diverse programme that would showcase both local talent and bring unique experiences to this year's festival. She said: "This year's festival is all about celebrating the power of creativity and the way art can unite us. "We're committed to providing an inclusive and accessible platform for both emerging and established artists to showcase their work and engage with the public." Full details about all of the events scheduled to take place over the long weekend can be found on the Drogheda Arts Festival website.
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Drogheda sets new record while host town Ardee win big at National Band Championships
Ardee Concert Band's Senior Band topped Section 1 Concert, claiming First Prize in their first-ever home victory, They also earned Best Supporting Section for their Double Reed Players – Betty Roddy, Gerry Farrell and Wendel Frietas – and Best Brass Award for their outstanding brass ensemble. Crowning their achievements, Ardee was named Best Band of the Championships under the baton of Musical Director Mr. Ronan O'Reilly. Adjudicator Dr Jonathon Corry, Musical Director of the 1st Old Boys Brass Band, praised the community band for 'a fine performance with great technique,' noting that it was 'well directed.' The celebrations continued for Ardee as their Intermezzo Ensemble achieved Second Place in Section 3 Concert, just behind winners St Mary's Brass and Reed Band of Kingscourt. The Ardee Ensemble featured 40 young musicians, many performing in competition for the first time under the direction of Mr James MacCafferty. 'This is a huge experience for these young musicians and coming away with a win in their first competitive Session is an added Bonus,' said Band PRO Sinéad Behan. "Musicianship in Ardee Concert Band is in a strong position and the future is well and truly secure for many years to come.' Meanwhile, history was also made in the Brass Band competitions as Drogheda Brass Band won a record-breaking 16th National Band Championship title, surpassing the previous record of 15 titles jointly held with Arklow Silver Band. Performing Philip Sparke's 'Evolution' as their test piece, Drogheda Brass Band, under the expert baton of conductor Stephen Murray delivered a stunning performance that earned the a top score of 188 points in Section 1 Brass, narrowly edging out the Navan Silver Band, conducted by Kevin Teers, who scored 186 points. Lourdes Brass Band secured third place with 185 points. This victory not only underscores Drogheda Brass Band's dedication and excellence in the brass band community but also sets a new benchmark in the history of the championships. Adding to their triumph, Drogheda's soprano coronet player, Luke Murphy, was awarded Best Instrumentalist in Section 1 Brass for his outstanding performance. Band Vice-Chair Brian Murphy expressed the band's delight at the achievement, saying: 'The level of competition this was exceptional. Every band brought their best and it was an honour to come out as winners in a great contest." 'I'd also like to congratulate Ardee Concert Band, not only for hosting such a brilliant event, but for winning their own grade in the Concert Band Section 1, beating off stiff competition from Dublin Concert Band,' added Murphy. Throughout the day, sixteen bands from across Ireland, including Dublin, Kildare, Galway, Cavan, Louth, Meath, Wicklow and Offaly, showcased their talents and competed across various Brass and Concert sections. The event, organised by the Irish Association of Brass and Concert Bands (IABCB), marked a memorable day for Irish bands, celebrating musical excellence, new milestones, and the strength of community music in Louth and across Ireland.
