Hundreds of marching band performers to entertain masses in 2019 Rose of Tralee Festival Parades
MARCHING bands are synonymous with the Rose of Tralee and 60 years on from the first ever Festival in 1959, this year’s audiences can look forward to enjoying the sweet sound of music from some amazing groups from near and far.
Millstreet Pipe Band from Co Cork will lead the Saturday night parade having played at the very first Rose Parade in 1959.
The Garda Band will take pole position in the Sunday afternoon parade and the Mayobridge Band from Co Down will lead the 2019 Rose of Tralee through the streets for the Midnight Madness celebration following the live announcement on RTE television on Tuesday 27th August.
This year’s events include a recital today at 1pm in the Square from the Glen Eagle Concert Band. At the same time the Rathanna Marching Band Carlow will perform on Denny Street.
This year’s Parades Start on Saturday 8:30pm until 10pm making its way through the town centre and leading this will be the Millstreet Pipe Band from Co Cork. The next parade will be on Sunday at 2:30pm and it leaves Brewry Road this will be lead by Garda Band.
The Final Parade and ultimately the biggest one of the weekend is on Tuesday night after the winner of Rose of Tralee is announced Mayobridge band will lead the winner through the streets in the midnight parade as they have done numerous times in the last few years.
The Operations Manager for the Rose of Tralee International Festival, Oliver Hurley, said: “There are upwards of 800 people taking part in this year’s three parades ranging upwards from eight years of age. The marching bands will be joined by the International Roses, Rose Escorts, Rose Buds, individually themed Rose Floats, Parade Performers, and of course the 2018 Rose of Tralee Kirsten Mate Maher along with selection night host Dáithí Ó Sé. It is a huge undertaking for bands to make the trip to Tralee with many of them fundraising beforehand to help finance their travel and accommodation costs associated with performing at the Rose of Tralee International Festival. We welcome them and thank them for being such a major part of the event.”
The public will get the opportunity to hear more of the wonderful bands when they perform at various recitals on the streets of Tralee over the weekend.
The Rose of Tralee International Festival organisers are always on the look-out for new marching bands with more information available from events@roseoftralee.ie.
This year’s marching bands are:
*Millstreet Pipe Band Co Cork
*Garda Band
*Tralee Pipes & Drums, Co Kerry
*Killian Band, Co Donegal
*Mayobridge Band, Co Down
*Gleneagle Concert Band, Co Kerry
*Blarney Brass & Reed Band, Co Cork
*Killorglin Pipe Band, Co Kerry
*Banna Mairseal Domhnach Maighean, Co Monaghan
*Tallaght Festival Band, Co Dublin
*Thomas Davis Pipe Band, Mallow, Co Cork
*Rathanna Marching Band, Co Carlow
Full details of all parades routes, starting times and band recitals are available from www.roseoftralee.ie, the Rose of Tralee Web-app which can be downloaded from iTunes and Google Play Store or from the Official Festival Brochure which is widely available.