A tiny Donegal island will a lot quieter tomorrow night after one fifth of its population left to attend tomorrow night’s World Cup qualifying game between Ireland and Austria at the Aviva Stadium.
Although residents on Arranmore island are big fans of football, there is another reason why more than 120 islanders are making the trip to Dublin.
It’s because the Arranmore Pipe Band have been invited by the FAI to play the national anthem and a election of other tunes prior to kick-off.
The special invitation was made by FAI chief John Delaney when he and Irish legend Ray Houghton visited the island last summer to open Arranmore Utd’s new ground.
The band, which includes 34 members, left the island, which rests 5kms of the mainland, by ferry today along with friends and supporters for the trip.
The band has been rejuvenated after it slipped to just a handful of members four years ago.
Piping instructor Alec Brown, 54, said there is huge excitement on the island about the band’s pending appearance at the stadium and on television.
Alec, a professional piper from Fife in Scotland, moved to the island in 2009, with his wife Marie Kelly who is from the island.
“There is huge excitement and it has been the talk of the island for weeks.
“It’s going to be a real occasion. It’s such a huge honour for such a small community and we intend to rise to the occasion.
“Hopefully we’ll also bring a bit of luck to the team and we can get the right result on the night,” he said.
The band will play the Presidential Salute, the National Anthem and a series of well known tunes such as the Rose of Arranmore, Kerry Polka, Marie’s Wedding and the Hills of Gaoth Dobhair.
The band won’t have to play the Austrian anthem as it is an orchestral piece not suited to pipes.
The band is made up of 18 pipers, 8 snare drummers; four tenor drummers, one base drummer, one drum major and two flag bearers.
Tags:
