History
Midleton Concert Band was founded as Midleton Holy Rosary Brass & Reed Band in 1951. The band took the name from the name of the catholic parish, and the main mover behind the foundation of a band was a catholic priest of the parish, Fr. Michael O'Connell.
A local committee was formed consicting of Sean Barry, Con Carey, Fr. O Connell,Jim Colbert, Pierce Forrest, Tim White, Eddie Hennessy, Jimmy Houlihan, Bertie Ahern, Bertie White,Jim Cashman; great efforts were made to raise money, which in the years after the war was not an easy task, and as a set of instruments were purchased from Germany.
The army band in Collins barracks Cork would have been consulted on technical issues and the first conductor was an army man, Paddy Hendrick.
This all male outfit practised with the newly acquired instruments, and the opening of the vocational school in Midleton in 1953 , now St. John the Baptist primary school, was the opportunity for the first public outing of the band.
The band flourished and became a regular sight at festivals, matches , processions and parades in the Cork region and beyond. Band competitions were another attraction for this musical group and many a trophy has been paraded down the main street over the years.
The present bandroom on St. Mary's Road was constructed in 1981, mainly using labour from within the band itself, is of the highest standard , and is the envy of many bands home and abroad. Internally it has been recently customised to cope with the demands of a vibrant and youthful musical force.
The first female members were admitted in 1984.and since then the ladies have gone on to become an integral part of the band, and have led the band both musically and administratively.
The band has toured on many occasions to England and Wales and has good relationships with many bands in Ireland and the U.K.
In more recent years the band has changed it's lineup to form a full concert band, and is now using the name Midleton Concert Band. Extensive training schemes are in place to continually improve standards and to ensure opportunities for young musicians to take their place in the ranks. Success in major championships has been a notable feature during the last decade in particular. Meanwhile the band still supports the community as much as ever, and indeed the community supports the band in return.