Watch: St Catherine's Accordion Band's Stateside dreams finally come true

St Catherine's Accordion Band strutted their stuff on 5th Avenue proudly taking part in the New York City St Patrick's Day parade.

The Killybegs band was selected to lead the Donegal Association in the Big Apple on March 16, as New York does not hold parades on a Sunday. The band were kept busy and also participated in the Bayonne St Patrick's Day Parade in New Jersey on March 17. 

“It was a great experience, absolutely unbelievable, we are still on a high,” Nuala Knox, St Catherine's Accordion Band chairperson and organiser of the trip told DonegalLive. “All members were overwhelmed and excited, and after the performance, they were so emotional. 

“I think the whole devastation of 2020 hit them when they had it done, now that they have performed and it happened and their dream came true. Afterwards, the band said ‘Never give up on your dreams.’”

“I can’t believe myself it happened now that it is over, it was a phenomenal experience. Plus the fact we were invited to the Bayonne parade in New Jersey so that was another highlight.”

The south Donegal band were the only band from the county to parade in New York. The band was also joined by the 2023 Dubai Mary Adele Morgan who marched in both parades to represent the Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival. 

Alongside Adele were Lena and Katie the Little Miss Marys, Kiera who was last year’s New York Mary, Shannon the 2023 Bayonne Mary and Anne-Marie McCullagh who is the MFD New York link.

After participating in both parades, the band said that the New York parade was the highlight but the New Jersey parade gave a more authentic experience.

“The New Jersey parade was similar but different. The parade was every bit as long but it was a lot more relaxed. I suppose everyone was on a high from New York, all of the high-rise buildings and everything is so so big. The 5th Avenue is just absolutely amazing, you line up on a side street and taking the turn onto the avenue is incredible. 

“Bayonne was very well organised but it showed us a different side of America, you are walking up a main street which is huge but it is all old-style houses and shops. Unlike in New York it is high-rise apartments you would see.”

Throughout the two parades, St Catherine's Accordion Band had the honour of performing for over two million people who lined the streets and they proudly raised the flag and represented Donegal in the States.

“From the moment we stepped out of 5th Avenue the sidewalks were thronged with people. We started on 44th Street and marched to 79th Street and the crowd never let up. There was millions of people it was just unbelievable. It was like all your dreams come true at once.”

The opportunity of a lifetime arose and 39 band members took part in the parades who are aged from eight upwards. In total, 74 people travelled to New York for the celebrations with most making it their family holiday for the year. The band travelled to New York last Wednesday, March 13 and stayed in the New Yorker Hotel where they were accommodated well until their departure on Monday. 

“We got such a good reception, everyone was so into them, the crowd was cheering,” she continued. “The parade began at 11am and ran until 5pm. We stepped out on to 5th avenue at 11:50am and we were finished at 1:30pm. Everybody is given different time slots so bands are all coming out of side streets at different times to join the parade.”

The band travelled four years after the Covid-19 pandemic shattered their original plans, in 2020 they were left completely devastated when their committee took the difficult decision to cancel their trip to New York last minute after months of planning and fundraising, so this has been a highly anticipated trip for the band members. 

“I think that’s why we appreciated it more, last time we found out on the Wednesday night we were no longer going and we were supposed to leave on the Friday morning. This time, it definitely exceeded every expectation we had. It was so so special and I am so glad to have been a part of it all. 

“The band would like to extend a huge thank you to everybody involved, sponsors, parents, fundraisers and the local community who are always on hand to support us. A special thanks to the teachers in the band who are Sharon Anderson who does majorettes, Karen Devine who takes care of music, Shaun Doran teaches the drums and Anne Marie O’Donnell does the marching, we would like to thank them as they prepared the band and got them in shape.”