Banna Chluain Meala is an Irish marching band

Marching band

Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...

 which was founded in 1971.http://bcmyouthband.ie/index.php Originally a brass band

Brass band

A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...

, Banna Chluain Meala later developed as a brass and reed band, which included concert, marching and fieldshow performances. The band also has a colour guard

Color guard

In the military of the United States and other militaries, the color guard carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag...

 section which enhances marching and fieldshow performances. The total complement of the band has ranged from 100 to 150 members throughout the years which also includes Junior members while they are being instructed prior to joining the Senior Band or Colour Guard. The band has travelled widely abroad to the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, Holland and France and represented Ireland at an International Festival in Cheb in the Czech Republic

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

 in 2004 to celebrate the new entrants to the European Union

European Union

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...

. Banna Chluain Meala is one of Ireland's most honoured bands. They hold concert band

Concert band

A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...

 championship titles on national and international levels. As a marching band they have had unparalleled success nationally, being crowned IMBA Irish champions in the highest division in 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007 and most recently in 2009. They have also had success abroad, most notably as Open Class

Open class

Open class may refer to:*Open Class , an event classification*Open class , a word class readily accepting new items*Open class , a standardbred racing event open to all comers...

 champions at the British Youth Band Championships at Wembley in 1994.

As well as the above, the band has over the years performed a number of shows including 'Oliver', 'Joseph and His Amazing Technical Dreamcoat' and 'Snow White'.

Band Committee

President - Danny Carroll

Chairperson - Michael Kiely

Vice Chairperson - Tony O' Keefe

Secretary - Roisín Gavigan

Asst. Secretary - Lyndsey Mullery

Treasurer - Michael O’ Gorman

Asst. Treasurer - Jacinta Gavigan

Events Manager - Aidan Fennessey

Band Member Liaison Officers - Majella Hewitt-Forte & Aidan Fennessey

Artistic Committee - Danny Carroll, Tony O’Keeffe, Peter Taylor, Michael Kiely Jnr.

Wardrobe Committee - Michael Kiely, Joan Lyttleton, Ursula Fennessy, Jacinta Gavigan, Phyllis Peters, Roisín Gavigan, Kathryn Kiely

Committee Members - Pat Furey, Noel Lonergan, Paul Peters

Awards

The Band has had many achievements in both Concert and Fieldshow in their class including:

• All Ireland
  All Ireland
  All-Ireland is an attributive which emphasises the island of Ireland. It contrasts with expressions such as the South or Northern Ireland which apply only to regions. Many sports are organised on an all-Ireland basis....
  
  Marching Band (Fieldshow) Champions 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2009
• British Youth Band Champions (open class) 1994
• Munster Concert Band Champions
• Southern Concert Band Champions
• National Concert Band Champions
• European Concert Band Champions
• Category winners in the Limerick International Marching Band Competition on numerous occasions.

The Band has travelled widely abroad to the United Kingdom, Holland and France and represented Ireland at an International Festival in Cheb in the Czech Republic in 2004 to celebrate the new entrants to the European Union.

One of the band's greatest achievements was the opening of its own Band hall in 1989.