THE Cloughaneely Senior Band will take part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in London this year.
Members of Buíon Cheoil Sinsear Chloich Cheann Fhaola accepted an invitation from The Donegal Association in London to feature in the 2.5km parade, which takes in some iconic London landmarks.
The parade takes place on March 15, beginning at Hyde Park Corner and finishing at Trafalgar Square.
Crowds up to 125,000 are expected to line the streets for the big parade.
“It is a fantastic honour and privilege for Buíon Cheoil Sinsear Chloich Cheann Fhaola to be selected to take part in London’s St Patrick’s Day parade this year,” Chairperson of the band, Teresa Lynch said.
“Our members have shown great dedication together with their instructors to perfect their London performance. With a great selection of jigs, reels, marches, show tunes and a few Donegal songs I’ve no doubt that the Irish Diaspora in London will truly enjoy our performance on the day.”
Since October, band members have been practising every week and have prepared a new music and marching routine for the St. Patricks Day trip.
This includes a mixture of their Fleadh programme with newer popular show tunes and traditional favourites such as The Town I Love So Well and ‘Hills of Donegal.
The band will be putting the finishing touches to this routine at their last practice in Ionad Naomh Fionnán on Sunday 8th March.
In all, 30 band members will march in the parade and this marks a wonderful occasion for band members young and old.
Band Leader Marion McCready said: “I’m proud to lead the band for the first time ever through London representing the parish of Cloughaneely”.
The band will fly out from Derry Airport to London on Friday 13th March and they will stay in the Clayton Crowne Cricklewood and return home on Monday 16th March in time for their local celebrations, beginning in Gortahork where they will be playing during mass and after, then onto lead the Dunfanaghy St. Patrick’s Day. They finish off the celebrations with a visit to the Community Nursing Home and ending the day with the Falcarragh parade.
