Achill band ready to strike right chord ahead of World Cup qualifier

ANNOUNCEMENT John Delaney, CEO, FAI, invited the Achill Pipeband to perform at the Aviva when he was in Achill for the island’s sports awards. He was pictured on the night with Young Player of the Year SeΡn McNamara and SeΡn Molloy.

Anton McNulty

WHEN AmhrΡn na bhFiann is played before Ireland’s World Cup qualifier in the Aviva stadium this Sunday, it will have a distinct west of Ireland air as it will be performed by the Achill Pipe Band.
The excitement around Achill is building ahead of the crucial qualifier against Austria as not only will the 32 members of the band be performing the national anthem but the boys and girls of Achill Rovers underage teams will be the officials ball-kids during the match.
Joe Mulligan, the PRO of the Achill Pipeband told The Mayo News that they were putting their final preparations in place for the night and were looking forward to the occasion.
“Everyone sees it as what it is. A chance of a lifetime which we might never get again to play in front of a crowd like that.
“We are all involved in the traditional St Patrick Day parades in Achill, we travel around Ireland and Scotland competing in competitions and we love what we do. But the chance to play in the Aviva in front of such a crowd on such an occasion is just something totally different.
“For the older members, we know this is going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity. The younger members are excited but I think it will only be in years to come when they reflect on it, that they will realise that was something special to be involved in.
“We are enjoying the build-up and looking forward to flying the flag for the parish of Achill. It will be a special night for Achill,” he said.

Surprise
The news that the band were to play the national anthem came out of the blue when John Delaney, the CEO of the FAI, made the announcement when he was a guest at the Achill Sports Network Ball in January.
The pipeband had just won the All-Ireland Fleadh pipeband competition and were asked to play on the night. John Delaney had been due to announce that Achill Rovers were to provide the ball-kids for the game but decided on the night to invite the pipeband to play the anthem before the Austria game.
The playing of the national anthem is still an important aspect of generating an atmosphere and Joe says they are determined to do just that.  
“Without question, we have full intention of doing the national anthem proud. A pipeband playing the national anthem will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. As far as I’m concerned the only way to hear AmhrΡn na bhFiann right is from a pipeband but I’m entirley biased,” he joked.
The band was only formed in 2007 as an opportunity for the best musicians in the parish to take part in competitions and since then they have had huge success in Ireland and in Scotland. A development band was set up last year to give up and coming musicians the experience of competing and both the senior and development bands will be playing in the Aviva.
The commitment and expense involved in competing in competitions is huge but Joe says there is a huge interest in the band among members and they are ambitious for the future.
“The long term future is promising because of the talent that is coming through. We are ambitious, we want to achieve the highest level that we can. We enjoy what we do and most importantly we enjoy doing it with the people we play with,” he said.
The Achill Pipeband will follow in the footsteps of the Clew Bay Pipeband who performed the national anthem before a World Cup qualifier between Ireland and Germany in 2012.
This will also be the second time in Achill Rovers history that the club will provide ball-kids for a World Cup qualifier game. The last time was in 1993 during a qualifier for USA ‘94 against Spain, which Ireland lost 3-1. Hopefully there will be a better result on Sunday.