Led by Inspector Tommy Boyle The Garda Band rehearse at Garda headquarters in the Phoenix Park.
Forty members of the Garda Síochána, all musicians, work under the directorship of Inspector TJ (Tommy) Boyle.
Collectively, they have become the most visible unit within the Garda Síochána.
The main section of the buildings at the Depot in the Phoenix Park was completed in 1842. Three years later, a riding school was built. When the Garda Síochána took over the buildings in 1922, the building became a chapel.
The first police band in Ireland was formed in 1861 under the Irish Constabulary. At that time, it was a military band and members of the police received similar training to the army.
The first police band formed under the Free State was a pipe band whose role was largely to help new recruits learn to march. The band played at the funeral of Michael Collins in August 1922. In September 1922, they performed at the funeral of Brigadier-General Joe Ring who was shot dead in the Ox Mountains. The pipe band performed when the headquarters was handed over by the Royal Irish Constabulary to the Garda Síochána in December 1922.
In 1923, the pipe band were disbanded and replaced by the new Garda Band under the direction of the first bandmaster, Superintendent DJ (Dan) Delaney.
The Garda Band as we know it today first performed in 1970 at the funeral of Garda Dick Fallon. They were formally introduced in 1972 for the jubilee celebrations of An Garda Síochána. Inspector Tommy Boyle has led the band since its inception. Musical arrangements are created by a number of band members and external providers. Musicians for the band are recruited from counties throughout Ireland.
Garda Marie Cullen, a French horn player from Clonmel, is one of the newest band members who joined six months ago. Another French horn player, Garda Woods from Navan, trained with the Army School of Music and then joined the Garda Band. Garda Michael Boyle from Strabane in Tyrone plays the cornett and is the only member of the band from the six countries. Garda Mulryan also plays the cornett but has a very different background from the other members. He played with singer Red Hurley for four years on the showband circuit. Garda Howard Mahony from Kilrush County Clare plays the sousaphone but started on the tuba. Garda Noeleen Leahy is the second female band member and the lead vocalist and is currently learning the guitar.
This episode of 'Summerhouse' was broadcast on 25 July 1979. The reporter is Liam Nolan.
'Summerhouse' was a summer magazine programme with a very wide brief, from arts and entertainment to investigative reports. The first series was presented by Áine O'Connor and Liam Nolan. Vincent Hanley replaced Liam Nolan as co-presenter for the second and third series. It was first broadcast on 13 June 1979 and ran for three summers until 19 August 1981.
