Brose Walsh Band celebrate 86 years in music at the Linenhall

The legendary Brose Walsh Band, Ireland’s longest established dance and show band will be celebrated through a series of events in the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar throughout September and October. The band will perform two exclusive concerts on September 15 and 16 in the theatre, along with the premiere of a short documentary film, 'The Brose Walsh Band, a Mayo Music Legacy', which tells the story of the band and how these Mayo musicians shaped and contributed to the showband era in Ireland and abroad.

Both evenings will include a drinks reception and some special guest appearances. A retrospective exhibition of photography and archive material documenting the band’s 86 years in entertainment will also be launched in the Foyer on September 15 and will be on show until October 10. This exhibition is a lifetime’s worth of memorabilia celebrating one of the greatest Irish dance bands and includes photos, letters, posters, and advertisements going back to the 1940's. These special events will celebrate the important contribution to music Brose and the succeeding members of the band have made. They are synonymous with the heyday of the old dance halls, and are of important cultural and musical significance to Mayo, having played hundreds of events over the years. The Brose Walsh band have the notable accolade of an unbroken family tradition of musicians playing together, stretching back over eight decades and three generations. The success story started when Brose made his debut in the Horseshoe Ballroom at Frenchill in 1937 and they haven’t stopped since.

The band were always very proud of their Mayo roots and acted as ambassadors for the county as they toured all over the world and they have become a symbol of a particular time in Irish history. This series of events in the Linenhall offers a glimpse into an important part of Mayo’s creative and music heritage, and the great sense of collective camaraderie and shared identity of Mayo people. For younger generations it may be a first insight into this part of our cultural history and for those of an older vintage it will be a wonderful waltz, jive and a jump down memory lane. Tickets for the concerts on the September 15 and 16 at 8pm are €5 and are available at: www.thelinenhall.com. Booking in advance is strongly advised. Doors open at 7pm for drinks reception and exhibition launch. The exhibition is free and will run September 15 to October 10 in the Linenhall Foyer.

Funding from Creative Ireland Mayo for the Brose Walsh Band documentary film is gratefully acknowledged.