TRIBUTES WERE paid yesterday to the long-time musical director of the Artane Boys’ Band, Joe Lynch, who died last Thursday at the age of 65.
Mr Lynch became involved in the band in 1956 at the age of 11, first conducting the band at a concert in Kilrush, Co Clare, at the age of 14.
After graduating from the band Mr Lynch went on to study music under Irish composer and teacher Prof AJ Potter and former director of the Irish Army School of Music Col John P Brennock.
On completing his studies he returned as musical director of the Artane Boys’ Band, until his retirement in 1995. He also played an important role in the Artane Senior Band team since its foundation in 1988.
Colleagues and fellow band members yesterday paid tribute to Mr Lynch, including Dublin North East Fine Gael TD Terence Flanagan who is a former member of the Artane Boys’ Band and is now involved in the senior band.
He described Mr Lynch as “a man of great integrity and a musical perfectionist”.
Another Artane Senior Band team member, Vincent McCormack, who first joined the band at the age of eight and who has known Mr Lynch for 30 years, said he was “a very, very fair man who always gave someone a chance”.
Mr McCormack said the senior band would play at Mr Lynch’s funeral, which takes place tomorrow. He added that the band had been inundated with calls from musicians from various organisations with links to the Artane Boys’ Band – including the Garda and Army bands and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra – offering to play at his funeral.
Mr Lynch’s funeral Mass will take place at the Church of Our Lady of Consolation, Donnycarney, Dublin, at 11am tomorrow with cremation immediately afterwards in Glasnevin Crematorium.
The Artane Boys’ Band was founded in 1872 by Brother Alphonsus Hoope, superior of the Artane Industrial School.