St Catherine's band to get New York jaunt for St Patrick's Day parade
After their planned trip in 2020 was cancelled at the eleventh hour due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the St Catherine's Accordion Band from Killybegs will lead the Donegal Association at the 2024 St Patrick's Day parade in New York
Four years after a similar trip had to be cancelled at the eleventh hour, St Catherine’s Accordion Band will travel to New York for the 2024 St Patrick’s Day Parade.
In March 2020, just days before they were set to jet Stateside, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent travel restrictions left the band grounded.
They will now lead the Donegal Association at next year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
On Sunday, the band performed at the Donegal senior football championship final at Sean MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey.
Previously, the band has been to Dallas, Seattle and London for St Patrick’s Day parades.
Most of the band is made up of children and young teenagers with 80 per cent of the current membership having joined in the last year.
A spokesperson for the band said in an article for Sunday’s match programme: “Their commitment and dedication is greatly appreciated. The band provides an equal opportunity to all children in Killybegs and surrounding areas to access music, drum and majorette lessons.
“There is a wide network of people we can always call on to help out when required. It is local support like this which will ensure St Catherine’s Band continues for generations to come.”
The band faced a crippling loss of €130,000 in 2020 before Liberty Travel assisted in recouping a large percentage of their funds.