U of Nebraska at Kearney band to march in Ireland parades

KEARNEY, Neb. – More than three dozen members of the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s marching band will be spending the next few days performing and sightseeing in Ireland.

A university news release says 42 band members will perform in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, an event that typically draws 500,000 spectators. The musicians have another parade Monday in Limerick.

Scheduled stops also include Galway, as well as visits to attractions such as the Cliffs of Moher, King John’s Castle and Trinity College’s Old Library. The students are scheduled to return Friday.

The marching band takes an overseas trip every four years — most recently to Norway in 2015. Band director Duane Bierman says the next trip being planned will be to London for a 2023 performance in a New Year’s Day parade.