17th May 2025

review by p/m tim farrelly of the st.joseph's,clondalkin pipe band

Many people will be surprised to know that St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band has never played a high profile concert in their home city. Sure, there have been some low-key performances over the years, but nothing as significant as this. The announcement of ‘The Lark in The Evening’ was therefore a very welcome development and sold out quickly. The 400-seater Lark Theatre in the North County Dublin town of Balbriggan is an ultra-modern performance space which wouldn’t be out of place in any major city in the world. 

As the audience gathered there was a palpable sense of excitement in the air, not only because SLOT were about to deliver their long-anticipated hometown performance, but also because it marked the beginning of a new pipe band season. Once the audience settled in, they were warmly welcomed by the evening’s MC, David Markey, a piper with the band currently on sabbatical.The evening’s setlist was divided into quarters. The band opened with jigs, beginning with The Lark in the Morning, a classic of the Irish repertoire and a fitting nod to the venue. This was a powerful opening statement for both the night and the season ahead: pure chanter sound, rich drones, and superb support from the backline and midsection. After a beautiful rendition of Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shores, the band left the stage for some drone tuning, leaving vocalist and keyboard duo Fergus and Danny to entertain the audience, having already joined in for the slow air. It’s worth complimenting them on their tuning, both guitar and keyboard blended seamlessly with the band’s pitch.Next up, James Stone, one of the leading soloists on the local scene, delivered a lovely set of reels that showcased his dexterity, expressive style, and beautifully balanced pipes.

The band returned to perform a set of classic hornpipes, Hamilton’s Nutsack and The Queen of the Rushes, with Hamilton himself in the audience. This was followed by a preview of one of their current medleys, opening with a lively arrangement of Charlie Lennon’s Hornpipe. For this early in the season, this medley is already firing on all cylinders, and will surely improve further.The anecdotes behind some of the tune names added a light-hearted touch to the evening. One such came during a set of waltzes featuring Richard’s Gone Bananas, a Tully composition penned in playful tribute to the legendary Richard Parkes, who was seated in the audience. Alen Tully took a moment to welcome Richard, acknowledging him as one of the greatest pipe majors of all time, a sentiment that drew rapturous applause.

Another standout moment came with ‘Booyackey’, a drum salute composed by former SLOT drummer Derek (Butch) Doyle, who had been playing drum kit throughout the evening. Stephen Creighton proudly introduced his corps, current World Champions. Booyackey is truly a spectacle to experience in person. The skill and orchestration are remarkable. The mid-section adds a powerful dimension to this incredible drum salute.Back in 2005, ‘The Dawning of the Day’ was the title of the band’s first major concert at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow. In a poignant replay of that moment, Terry Tully was once again, joined by his son Alen in a moving duet. In an emotional twist, they were in turn joined by Terry’s grandchildren, bringing three generations of pipers together on stage. It was a touching and fitting end to a thoroughly entertaining evening.

It’s difficult to be critical given the immense work and dedication that goes into a production of this scale. The venue, modern and comfortable, perhaps felt a little limited from a sound perspective; at times the audio was overpowering, though that may have been due to my seat in the balcony. The band itself was outstanding. Whilst tuning breaks occasionally disrupted flow, these were understandable. Personally, I would have liked to hear at least one MSR, but overall it was a highly professional and thoroughly enjoyable concert.

for the full set of videos from the concert - please visit the big rab show youtube channel.