Combined Bands of the Defence Forces Annual Concert
Army band playing on O'Connell Street for the Easter Rising 1916 Centenary Commemoration...Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.
Fresh from their successful concert in the National Concert Hall, the Combined Bands of the Defence Forces will perform in the Radisson Hotel, Athlone tomorrow evening, Thursday 13th November next at 7.30pm.
The concert is organised jointly by the Athlone Rotary Club and the Defences Forces in Athlone.
The annual concert this year is primarily in aid of the Athlone Special Olympics Club. The young athletes of the Special Olympics are currently in training for the National Finals 2026 and are in need of new gear and equipment to assist their preparation.
Under their conductor, Captain William Chester, the band will perform a wide and varied programme of popular music to please all tastes. This year’s guest artist is Dublin based mezzo-soprano, Gemma Ní Bhriain, who has performed in Ireland and throughout Europe in various operatic roles. The Pipes of the Defence Forces School of Music playing solo or with the band are always very popular, and will also make an appearance.
Billy Nott, President of the Rotary Club of Athlone, said that Athlone is very lucky to be one of the few locations in the country that the Combined Bands of the Defence Forces perform at, and the public will get a chance to savour the very high standard of musicality that the bands have achieved.
Tickets are €25 and can be purchased online at eventmaster.ie, at the Radisson Hotel or McGorisk’s Pharmacy.
