An Cosantóir March / April 2026 www.military.ie/magazine
A
s early as
November 1922,
General Richard
Mulcahy mooted that "I
want bands for the Army.
I want to have bands that
will dispense music and
musical understanding
in the highest terms to
the people." After an
unsuccessful approach to
the French government,
two noted German
military musicians (Fritz
Brase and Christian
Sauerzweig) were
recruited and arrived in
Ireland in March 1923.
Within a month, they
had secured a building
in the Curragh Camp for
an Army School of Music
and procured enough
musical instruments
from Germany to equip
two full bands. Musicians
were feverishly trained
and that October, the
Army No. 1 Band gave
their first public recital
in the Theatre Royal
which was declared an
unqualified success.
By January 1926, three
bands had been formed,
the third of which was
placed at the disposal
of the GOC Curragh
Command.
14 |
THE BAND OF THE BAND OF
THE CURRAGH THE CURRAGH
COMMAND COMMAND
ARTICLE BY SGT
(RETD) PJ LYDON
Sgt Davy Scott leading the Curragh Band through Connolly Bks, DFTC
30 Ex members of the Curragh Command
Ceannt NCO's mess in 2023
The Curragh Band played at RTE's Theatre Nights, 2 Radio
programmes followed for the band after the concert
Sgt PJ Lydon (Retd) pictured at Landsdowne
Road before playing for the Army Number
1 band at a Six Nations game between
Ireland and Wales
PJ Lydon pictured with Lt
Col Fergal Carroll at a Photo
Exhibition in Kildare Council
Offices, Naas
