In an old and freezing loft in an empty store at the canal basin in 1947, men sat
aroud in overcoats, with no heat, and very little light, but they were happy - they
were playing music.
They were the founding members of a band that today is stronger than ever.
Known locally as St. Joe's, and also affectionally as the town band, the development
of St. Joseph's out of the St. Eugene's silver band, founded in 1928, showed the
hunger for this type of music in the Strabane locality.
One of the original members, ex-Derry City and Sligo Rovers footballer, Tommy Tiny
Barr, is still a very active member of the band.
Since those early days, the band has travelled far and wide, playing concerts, dinner
dances, fates, parades, sports events, and church services, but it was towards the
end of the 1990s, and under the musical directorship of Michael Early, that the
band became a force to be rekoned with, in competitive circles, winning the All-Ireland
and Northern Ireland Brass Grade 3 titles on two successive occasions.
In the short years of this new millennium, the band has gone from strength to strengh,
winning a plethora of titles, including the recent All-Ireland Grade 2 Brass Band
title.
Bringing music to life is the moto of St. Joseph's, and bring it to life they do!