## Trustees Annual Report for Murley Silver Band 2023-2024 

Murley Silver Band have had a very good year’s banding up to end January 2024. Band activities have taken on their usual routine of rehearsals to prepare for concerts, parades and contests. We have also been busy with a learner group (Bob Hall School of Music) and a development level band (Murley Concert Band) to help support young people’s musical journey towards the senior band. The band used the first part of the year to prepare for the annual Entertainment contest at the Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown. 

In April a small group played at the Rugby All-Ireland Final qualifying match between Clogher Valley (based in Fivemiletown) and Richmond RFC at Ashbourne, Co Meath where Clogher Valley emerged victorious to qualify for Senior All-Ireland rugby. This is an example of the band supporting activities and organisations in our local community. 

In June a group of our players enjoyed a weekend trip to take part in a joint concert with the world-famous Black Dyke Mills band at Dewsbury Town Hall. 

We then played some local engagements to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We also played at the 12[th] July parade in Aughnacloy and a week later played in Dromore for the Ulster Fleadh.  The Last Saturday parade was then in Loughgall at end August. The Autumn saw us prepare for the NIBA contest at the Market Place Theatre, Armagh where we competed in mid October. We also continued to work towards getting a new lease agreed with Blessingbourne Estate so that we can then redevelop and extend our band hall to help us celebrate our Centenary in 2024. 

During November we played in Omagh on Remembrance Sunday. 

At Christmas we played at a number of events including Fermanagh Choral Society’s concert in Enniskillen and also Santa’s arrival for Fivemiletown’s Chamber of Commerce. We then enjoyed our Christmas dinner at Edfield Restaurant, Fivemiletown where our annual fundraising draw took place and cups were awarded to players/sections. 

In January 2024 we started rehearsing for the Centenary concert which was staged in the Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown in early February. 

The Committee met every six-weeks usually through zoom calls with some face-to-face meetings towards the end of the year. 

M Bloomfield Co-Chair Murley Silver Band