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14 Oct 2025
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14 Oct 2025
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Intermezzo Ensemble after their performance at the 107th Championships of the North of Ireland Bands’ Association
Ardee Concert Senior Band has taken its fourth Turner Trophy in a row at the Championship of Ireland Bands contest, currently taking place in Armagh.
The 107th Championship of Ireland Bands contest are being held over two Saturdays, 11 and 18 October, in the Market Place Theatre in Armagh. The first of the competitions was last Saturday, when Ardee Intermezzo Ensemble took to the stage for the fourth grade concert section.
Under their Musical Director James MacCafferty the 35 strong ensemble performed four compositions to try and retain the title of 4th Grade Concert Winners. They performed Clutch, Gabriels Oboe ft. Flute Solo by Hollie Reilly, Shadow Realm and Escape for their entry, which on the day was live streamed on the Facebook page of the North of Ireland Bands Association for the first time in it's history.
The Ardee Concert Senior Band were up next in the fight to retain their championship title and strive to make it four in a row for the prestigious Turner Trophy.The 50 strong band took to the stage under their Musical Director Ronan O'Reilly performing 'Symphonic Overture' by James Barnes. The adjudicator for the day was Liz Childs.
Both bands hadn't long to wait as the adjudication took place before lunch. After a short speech about her morning of judging the results were announced and without further ado both bands were crowned Champions of the Fourth Grade Concert and Championship Concert sections respectively.
The intermezzo ensemble were presented with a plaque, medals and certificate from Liz Childs and for the fourth year in a row the senior band were presented with the very prestigious Turner Trophy, collected by MD Ronan O'Reilly.
It’s the senior band’s 12th time winning the event and one they first won forty years ago in 1985. In winning Ardee Concert Senior Band have now become the joint most successful band from the Republic of Ireland at the event.
The Ardee Intermezzo Ensemble made history becoming the first concert band to be live streamed at a contest on the island of Ireland when they performed excellently to become fourth grade Champions of Ireland.
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