St.Patricks Band Return

After the truce of July 1921, the band was resurrected and many new and former members joined following a public Band meeting in November. Up to forty players joined and the bandroom was reopened for rehearsals and dances. The Band paraded for many of the British evacuation and handover of barracks ceremonies in 1922 and led the new Irish army to take over the evacuated barracks.

In 1922 members resisted efforts to close the Bandroom during the Civil War that ended in May 1923. That year the Band played at election rallies as the new free State became established and normal concerts and recitals resumed. The Bandroom re-established itself as a Social centre in Galway with the running of regular public dances. The Band was once again involved in the major events in Galway in the 20s, most notably playing on the first outside broadcast of Radio 2RN in 1927 under the direction of Bandmaster Paddy Griffin. The first piece of music played by the band 'on air ' was Sousa's "Stars and Stripes”. The broadcast was in aid of the Cleggan Disaster and it was held in The Empire Theatre under the musical direction of May Fogarty and was heard in England and on the continent.