It has been the usual hectic summer with some members of the band being out every weekend for the last 7 weeks.
Events have included things such as The Acocks Green Carnival, The GAA for Africa, So lihull Hospital Fete, Weddings in Wolverhampton and Lichfield, The St Chads Garden Party, a benefit evening for Paddy Dineen and many more.
However even after these events, (many of which are charitable and for which we receive no funding), the band still owes money to a couple of suppliers.
Our suppliers are very good and understand that they will get their payments very soon and there would have been no problems if the bank that we use had stuck to their agreed policy without suddenly withdrawing an overdraft facility that had been in place for 3 years, without consultation.

The Band turned out to open the GAA for Africa Day at Pairc na hEireann last month one of their many engagements

But I suppose that is the nature of business today, it doesn’t really matter how much you do for charity and the community at large the big corporates are only interested in their pennies and pounds. Today, business is business, whether it is community driven or not.
One way you could all help the band is to turn up and enjoy our 7th Anniversary Dance to be held at the Irish Club on the 10th September with dancing to Jackie & Crossfire.
Paul Brady, one of our side drummers and our new secretary has managed to get some incredible raffle prizes, including a £600 power shower and items from various football clubs plus a print donated by the Cork Municipal Art Gallery called Men of The South by Sean Keating, which Paul will have had framed by a sponsor for the evening. As usual we expect a great evenings entertainment and plenty of chance to dance and enjoy the craic with friends.
Tickets are only £3 and if we have supported you over the last few years please come and support us.
It has been a while since we last wrote and I do apologise, I will do my utmost to ensure that an article is entered every month from now on because The Harp is a great supporter of the band, is doing a great job for the Irish Community and the community at large in the Midlands, and deserves all the support it can receive too.
Joel Grigg my son entered a bagpiping competition in Ashbourne, Derbyshire in July - Ashbourne is the biggest bagpipe and highland games competition held in England.
In the under 15s competition Joel came 4th out of 14, in the Midlands Open March -Adult - he came 3rd. He won a medal and £10 out of 15 competitors, the whole band are proud of him so keep it up, his competition tutor Bill Traigis is over the moon and already working on his next competition sets.
Next year will probably see the Birmingham Irish Pipes & Drums enter competition for the first time, the judges comments can only help to improve the bands sound and performance.
Tickets for our dance are available from The Irish Club, Minstrel Music, or from myself on 0121 686 3832 or Maurice Long on 0121 783 0323. Until then good luck and we hope to see you for a very entertaining evening.