On Friday night, a special meeting of the Corporation was held with Mayor Alderman Joyce presiding. During the meeting, Councillor Whelan brought up the topic of military bands attending sports and regattas in the city.

Councillor Whelan expressed his concern, stating that he finds it degrading for true Irishmen to listen to bands representing a power that has caused harm to their people and oppressed them. He strongly advocated for encouraging local musical talent to perform at events instead of engaging English military bands, which he saw as symbols of oppression and imperialism.

He proposed a resolution, requesting that the Mayor and all Corporation officials refrain from attending any sports or regattas where an English military band is performing. However, some members of the Corporation, including Alderman Daly, expressed their opposition to the resolution, perceiving it as an attempt to pass a vote of censure on them.

Mayor Alderman Joyce suggested amending the resolution to make it less coercive, but Councillor Whelan declined to change its wording. Ultimately, no one seconded the original resolution, and it did not pass.

The debate highlighted differing views on the use of military bands at public events and the expression of Irish nationalism in the city of Limerick.

Limerick Echo – Tuesday 06 June 1905