This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Dolan, McSharry, Wilson, Ferguson, Harte, Mitchell, McGloin, Jeiter Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/YWC.2ACI/5431 Message Board Post: FYI - In the 2006 issue of the yearly "Leitrim Guardian" magazine, there is an article "Manorhamilton's Marching Band Tradition" by Dominic Rooney. He states that the earliest reference he could find to a marching band in Manorhamilton came from an entry in Lord Leitrim's diary for 4th December 1860 which states that a band played to welcome his arrival into town that day. There is no mention of the name of the band or what instruments were played, no record of how long the band survived. There is, however, a circa 1908 photo in that magazine of the 1st Castle Street Band (c. 1900-11), outside Jeiter's Commercial Hotel, Manorhamilton. The flag-bearer was Paddy Cullen, Lisnabrack. The fife and drum band was founded at the turn of the century when a renewed sense of national identity was developing in the country. Not surprisingly, therefore, the band later became closely identified with Charles J. Dolan, the Sinn Fein candidate from Manorhamilton, in the 1908 North Leitrim bye-election. The band was formally thanked by the Killasnett branch of Sinn Fein two days after the election on 23rd of February for its "manly and patriotic stand in support of the policy of the new fledgling party.' It is said that the band's drums were smashed in a confrontation between Sinn Fein, the police and supporters of the Irish Parliamentary Party in 1911 and that the band disbanded soon after. Band members included Francis McSharry (big drum), John Wilson (fife), Willie Fer! guson (fife), Jack Harte (fife), James and Pat Mitchell (fifes), Tom and John McGloin and Johnnie Harte. The band uniform consisted of a jacket, sash and cap. (Perhaps this information will assist researchers with their genealogy).