Gerard McCartney (Eb bass)
Gerard began playing the tuba in second year in the De La Salle Secondary School in Downpatrick under Mrs. Coyle’s tuition. This was a school concert band so the tuba player learned bass clef. He went to the South Eastern School of Music in Ballynahinch playing in the Junior Concert, Intermediate and Senior Concert band and attended the Advanced Teaching Service in Ballynahinch passing grade 7 in the theory of music. He was tutored in The School of Music by Mr. Jackie Burch who tutored him through his grade 5 (practical) which he passed with distinction. Gerard played with the Senior Concert Band on BBC Radio 4 at Ormeau Avenue. Around 1980 he played for Laganvale Brass Band under the conductor Mr. Murdock and played in the Ulster Hall in the Northern Ireland Championships in 1980. This required Gerard to be transposing treble clef with Laganvale and the school band (which by then had become a brass band) whilst reading bass clef at Ballynahinch (switching back and forth from three valve to four valve tubas) and during the following year for grades for Music A Level at St. Patricks Grammar School in Downpatrick.
Gerard didn’t play anymore when he left school in 1984 and had a 34yr career in the NHS. As part of his retirement plans, he bought a tuba to see if he could still play. After two weeks he contacted Downshire Brass Band and by June he was playing live with the band at Hillsborough Castle! Since then, Gerard has played in several Northen Ireland Championships and in the European Championships in Birmingham in 2022 and in Norway in 2025 for the European Championships there. He drove the van loaded with equipment from Belfast to Norway and back with another member of the band’s team.
Gerard has played with the band at most of their events. Gerard helps out other brass bands when requested and possible. In 2023 Gerard had the opportunity to play with another band in the Ulster Hall, forty-three years after he last played there! Gerard has been the Band Secretary since February 2022.
Gerard worked as a Registered Mental Health Nurse for 34yrs in Purdysburn Hospital/ Knockbracken Healthcare Park. He worked in the Regional Secure Unit, Shannon Clinic, for 15yrs and retired in 2019. He is married and has a daughter, son and grandson. Gerard loves travelling and has been doing city breaks in different cities all around Europe since 2004.