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VIDEO Illinois State University overall winners at 47th Limerick International Band Championships

The Illinois State University have been named as the overall winners of the 47th Limerick International Band Championships Picture: Sean Curtin True Media.

Illinois State University named overall winners of the 47th Limerick International Band Championships

Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Limerick Cllr Michael Hourigan presents Oisin Dowling Redemptorist Centre of Music Concert Band, Limerick with a Special Judges award from the 47th Limerick International Band Championship.Picture Sean Curtin True Media.


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Around 1,000 musicians performed in this years 47th Limerick International Band Championships and saw 17 bands from the United States, Germany, England, Northern Ireland, Tipperary, Dublin, Donegal and Westmeath as well as Limerick marching down O’Connell Street in Limerick as part of the Limerick St Patrick’s Festival 2017.

Tens of thousands of spectators braved the weather and lined the route, cheering on the competitors in what is Ireland’s only marching band competition.

Illinois State University was presented with the Kenneally Jewellers Perpetual Trophy as overall winners of the championship organised by Grooveyard on behalf of Limerick City and County Council.

The winners in the other categories were:

  • Best International Band – Trommlerkorps ‘Gut Klang’
  • Best Youth Band – Mullingar Town Band
  • Best Local Band – Newcastle West and District Pipe Band
  • Best Musical Performance – Banna Chluain Meala, Clonmel
  • Best Uniform – Pyjama Band
  • Most Entertaining Performance – Clondalkin Youth Band
  • Special Judges Award – Friendship Band
  • Special Judges Award – City of Limerick Pipe Band
  • Special Judges Award – Redemptorist Centre of Music Concert Band, Limerick

Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Limerick Cllr Michael Hourigan congratulated the winners: “The Limerick International Band Championship is such a unique event and I’m delighted that it is continuing to be as popular as ever, drawing high quality bands to Limerick.  I would like to thank the bands for coming to Limerick and entertaining the massive crowds that turned out to see the musicians and a big congratulations to the winners.”

“The Band Championship is unique to Limerick and we must do everything we can to promote and expand the event, both nationally and internationally.  There is something special about looking up O’Connell Street and seeing the bands in all their pomp marching down the street.  It is a fantastic showcase for attracting visitors to Limerick.”

Bands performed at the reviewing stand for three minutes as part of the judging process with the winners announced at Arthur’s Quay Park following the marching.

Performances at the 47th Limerick International Band Championship were judged by an international panel chaired by Professor Stanley F. Michalski, Emeritus Professor of Music at the Clarion University of Pennsylvania.  The other members of the judging panel were: Dr Brad Snow, Director of Marching Bands, Missouri State University; Dr Richard Goode, Interim Chair, Department of Music, Auburn University, Alabama; Keith Bearden, former Director of Marching Bands, Texas Tech; Dr Evelyn Grant, Lecturer Cork School of Music, Cork Pops Orchestra and presenter on RTE Lyric FM and Niall Carroll, presenter RTE Lyric FM and former competitor in the Limerick International Band Championship.

The Limerick International Band Championship is part of the Limerick St Patrick’s Festival 2017 and has been co-ordinated by Grooveyard on behalf of Limerick City and County Council and is kindly sponsored by Analog Devices, Mr Binman, Maldron Hotel and Limerick’s Live95fm. 

To find out more about the 47th Limerick International Band Championships click HERE

Pictures by Sean Curtin/True Media

Pictures by Johnny Baynes/ilovelimerick

Pictures by Sophie Goodwin/ilovelimerick

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.