Coming from a long established family of accordionists George Dummigan decided in 1994 to gather together a group of fellow players and formed the orchestra. Inexperienced in the world of concert music, George hired the services of teacher and conductor Mr Clyde Johnston.  Rising to the challenge, some of the players, who were ‘button key’ players enrolled in the local accordion school and took lessons on piano keyed instruments, where they learned how to read music and how to play both the bass and treble keys of this very versatile instrument. 

With their main objective being to perform a reasonable standard of concert the orchestra worked hard throughout the winter of 94/95 and decided to put their new found talent to the test and entered the ‘All Ireland Open Accordion Band Championships’ to play a little sacred piece called Eventide. Feeling as though they had achieved a major title the orchestra were thrilled to be awarded second place, and on hearing just what real accordion orchestras could do a new determination grew within the ranks. During the summer of 1995 the orchestra performed their first concert in front of a large audience at Carnfunnock Country Park in Larne with a selection of simple but very popular tunes.

A terrified and trembling bunch of players had now become a group of performers, and throughout that summer confidence grew and performances were becoming popular with the general public.Further honours were bestowed upon the orchestra as they were placed in the top three of each of their sections at the Northern Ireland Open Accordion Championships in Scarborough, a first place in the All Ireland Championships and perhaps the most prestigious of all first place in the test piece and own choice sections of the Northern Ireland Bands Association championships held in Portadown in 2005. 

Two of the orchestras key players Emma and Lyndsey Dummigan have also make quite a name for themselves on both the concert and competition stages. Between them they held several individual and duet titles and often play out at private venues such as weddings clubs etc.  

Now under the baton of Mr William Clements a top name in the Northern Ireland Band Association the orchestra is planning anew look for their concert performances. George hopes to introduce new instruments to accompany the accordions and with competent flute and clarinet players already within the ranks this should prove to be a very interesting sound.