Vincent Dolan

Walking into the photo shot with Vincent Dolan I thought I knew every little detail about him, the band and his background – given that I have been in the band for God knows how long but as the shot progressed and I started asking questions I realised how completely clueless I was of everything! The three minor details I actually knew where Vincent’s name: Vincent Dolan, the name of the band: Clondalkin Youth Band and when the band was set up 1985. Vincent had to remind me of the year the band was set up!

 I asked him about the band and just “why?” I was informed that Vincent wanted to create a community marching/concert band and that is what he classed the band as! Vincent is one for his huge ego. You can ask any member of the band about Vincent’s ego and you will be told that it’s clear that he has one and that it’s very obvious so Vincent being nominated for being a hero of Clondalkin severely added to this ego. Yet he thought it was an honour to have been nominated and chosen. But we all know deep down that he knew he would be nominated and picked!

I was always curious why Vincent picked Clondalkin of all places. He said that he was “approached by the principal of St. Joesphs Primary School – the all-boy’s primary school in Clondalkin. There was a few other areas that I was interested in going to but Clondalkin seemed like the best option” I’m glad that he picked Clondalkin because I maybe would never have joined the band and met the people I know call my family. I then started talking about the instruments that Vincent plays/enjoys. I knew about him playing saxophone and clarinet. He then went on to tell me that he also plays the flute. He told me that he is a professional saxophone player and his favourite instrument is the clarinet, given that he plays it. I asked why he doesn’t play professionally any more, he says he has no time due to his teaching hours with the band and his involvement with the Garda Band – he fixes the instruments in the Garda band. Vincent then got dragged away from me to get some photos taken.

I managed to squeeze in a few more questions. He told me he plays clarinet with the Garda band. He originally started playing saxophone with the Mullingar band as Vincent is from Mullingar, then went on to play the clarinet. He never played flute professionally but he knows how to play it. Vincent is a man who is extremely proud of the band and where we have gotten over the past 29 years. We have appeared on the ‘Late Late’ show, are in the Dublin St. Patricks Day parade every year. In 2014 we were the only Irish band in the parade. We have gone to many competitions all over the world as well as appearing in parades in places such as New York. Vincent tells me that there is 80 members in the marching band alone. It is an honour for me personally to be able to know a man like Vincent Dolan and be in the band that he set up. Vincent Dolan really is my local hero.