It was a busy week recently for Stalybridge Old Band.

On Saturday they entertained the crowd at Stalybridge Celtic football club and on the following Tuesday gave a crowd pleasing performance at the local Civic Hall.

Tipperary

Both were part of the town's celebrations of the centenary wartime hit 'It's A Long Way To Tipperary', first performed by music hall entertainer Jack Judge at the Grand Theatre in Stalybridge — exactly 100 years ago.

A large crowd gathered despite the cold outside Stalybridge Civic Hall, where a statue of Jack Judge now stands.

The famous tune was reportedly written just 24 hours before its first performance, after Judge accepted a five shilling bet that he couldn't write an original song ready to perform the following day4BR

Plaque

The band joined by children from nearby St Peter's Primary School performed the hit song, seen later that day on both BBC North West and 'Granada Reports', as Councillors unveiled a plaque to remember the song which put the town on the musical map.

Bet

The famous tune was reportedly written just 24 hours before its first performance, after Judge accepted a five shilling bet that he couldn't write an original song ready to perform the following day.

It was later adopted by British troops as a marching tune during the First World War.