Competition
PHOTOS – Youngsville High School, USA crowned the 48th Limerick International Band Championship 2018 winners
The Clondalkin Youth Band pictured at the 48th Limerick International Band Championship 2018, Limerick. Picture: Sean Curtin, True Media.
Youngsville High School, USA crowned the 48th Limerick International Band Championship 2018 winners
Limerick’s St. Patrick’s Festival Extravaganza was a tremendous treat for the whole family as dramatic illuminations were projected onto one of Limerick’s most iconic buildings followed by a spectacular fireworks display during which the skies of Limerick will transform into an explosion of colour! Photo: Sean Curtin True Media
Youngsville High School from Pennsylvania in the United States have been named as the overall winners of the 48th Limerick International Band Championship 2018 – Ireland’s only marching band championship.
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Driving snow failed to dampen the spirits of the thousands of people who lined the streets of Limerick as they cheered and supported the 1,300 musicians from 20 bands takes part in the championship.
Bands from the United States, Germany, England, Northern Ireland, and across Ireland marched down O’Connell Street in Limerick as part of the Limerick St Patrick’s Festival 2018.
The 70-strong Youngsville musicians were 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 – Vestavia Hills High School Band, Alabama, USA
Best Youth Band – Clondalkin Youth Band, Dublin, Ireland
Best Local Band – Newcastle West and District Pipe Band, Limerick, Ireland
Best Musical Performance – Trommlerzug und Musikkapelle Uffing, Germany
Best Uniform – Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, Connecticut, USA
Most Entertaining Performance – The Friendship Band, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Special Judges Award – City of Limerick Pipe Band, Limerick, Ireland
Special Judges Award – St Mary’s Prize Band, Limerick, Ireland
Special Judges Award – Banna Chluain Meala, Tipperary, Ireland
Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Limerick Cllr Marian Hurley 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. Even though it was so cold and snowing, people’s hearts were warmed by the wonderful sounds coming from the bands. They were amazing and they were all in such good humour.”
“They did their drills just as they would have rehearsed and hats off to them. They were brilliant and to all those people who stayed and watched and cheered them on, fantastic!”
Bands performed at the reviewing stand for three minutes as part of the judging process with the winners announced at Arthur’s Quay following the march.
Performances at the 48th Limerick International Band Championship were judged by an international panel consisting of Dr Stan Michalski, Norman Rogerson, Dr Andrea Strauss, Evelyn Grant and Niall Carroll.
The head judge, Dr Stan Michalski said: “I want to congratulate all the bands for taking the opportunity to walk through the entire parade, because it was very difficult on the instrumentalists with the weather being so cold and the snow falling.”
“This is one of the good parades and international competitions because it features all types of bands and you can see the improvement over the years. I’ve been judging here for five years and I’m very much impressed with the improvement in the parade and musicianship.”
The Limerick International Band Championship is part of the Limerick St Patrick’s Festival 2018.
At the St Patrick’s Festival Extravaganza at King John’s Castle that evening, dramatic illuminations were projected onto the historic castle, followed by a spectacular fireworks display which will transform the city’s skies into an explosion of colour!
St Patrick’s Festival Extravaganza at King John’s Castle event is a collaboration between King John’s Castle and Limerick School of Art and Design LIT, with grant funding from Limerick City and County Council.
For all St. Patrick’s Day events, go here.
For more stories on Limerick International Band Championship, go here.
