Main pic: The Cloughaneely Senior Band following their performance in Central Station, New York.
A Donegal marching band marked the loss of three loved ones in tragic circumstances in a poignant ceremony on New York’s Brooklyn Bridge at the weekend.
For the second successive year, Cloughaneely Band received an invitation from The Donegal Association to participate in the city’s prestigious St. Patrick’s Day Parade yesterday.
But little did they know that so much tragedy was to beset their members in a few short weeks.
The band was rocked in February when Enya McMurrough, aged just 13, and daughter of band member Fionnuala, passed away suddenly.
The tightly-knit group were to be shaken again following the recent tragic car crash in Gortahork which claimed the lives of Jamie Diver and Shaun Martin McClafferty.
The young men’s mothers Roise and Sharon are both proud members of the band also.
As part of their trip, the band took a special moment to remember Enya, Jamie, and Shaun Martin, three cherished children whose loss has left an unimaginable void with their loss deeply felt by all.
At sunrise on Sunday morning, they gathered on Brooklyn Bridge to honour the memories of these three beautiful children. In silence, and in love, they stood together as one, ensuring that Enya, Jamie, and Shaun are forever part of their journey.
Following mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral in The Big Apple yesterday morning, they received a special blessing from the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan. He was accompanied by Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Eamon Martin.
They then proceeded to march down Fifth Avenue with immense pride—not just for their parish, community, county, and country, but for the children they carried in their hearts.
The band also thrilled commuters when they played a few tunes in the famous Central Station (below).
A group of 32 band members, accompanied by supporters and family, departed from Dublin Airport on Saturday to take part in the historic event.
This incredible opportunity saw the band proudly represent the parish of Cloich Cheann Fhaola on an international stage, performing for an estimated two million spectators along Fifth Avenue, with a further 30 million watching the broadcast.
The money raised through their various fundraising efforts was used solely for equipment, uniforms, travel, and transfers with each band member covering their own flights and accommodation costs for the trip.
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