Glasgow’s St Roch’s Marching Band is preparing for a very special trip this weekend, as they get ready to perform at Croke Park during the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final between Donegal and Meath.
It marks another major milestone for the group, who have enjoyed a remarkable year since becoming the first band from outside Ireland to win the Senior Miscellaneous title at the 2024 All‑Ireland Fleadh in Wexford. Now, they are bringing their music to one of the most iconic sporting venues in Ireland in front of 82,000 people.
Speaking to the GAA Band member Danny Boyle says there’s huge excitement ahead of the trip.
“A total of 60 of us will be travelling from Glasgow for the semi-final, filled with excitement and pride,” he says. “Our group includes the 37 dedicated members of the band, along with some of our beloved band children—whose parents, like the Howards and the McKnights, both play in the band. Many of these children are also proudly involved in the Tír Conaill Harps GAA Club in Glasgow, deepening the connection between music, sport, and community.”
The band will also be joined by Jenn Treacy of Scotland GAA and Andrea Wickam Moriarty from the Irish Consulate in Edinburgh, both of whom have offered strong support over the past year.
“We’re honoured to be accompanied by Jenn and Andrea, who have been incredibly supportive of the band throughout the year and played a key role in making our Croke Park performance a reality.”
For many members, the connection between the band and the GAA runs deep.
“Within the band itself, our links to the GAA are strong and enduring. At one time or another, nearly every member has pulled on a jersey—whether through formal club involvement or joyful introduction to the game.”
The band’s journey over the past year has been significant. Having only started the marching band in March 2024, the progress made has been remarkable.
“This time last year, the band was still practising at St Mary’s Church Hall on the southside of Glasgow,” Boyle explains. “We all have musical backgrounds—many of us are All-Ireland champions individually or as part of Ceilí bands or duets—but we’d never done a marching band before. We were novices at that.”
Winning the All-Ireland in Wexford marked a turning point.
“It was the first time we’d had a marching band from Scotland participating in that. So, what we saw after winning the All-Ireland was that we’d a huge opportunity over the next year to maximise that prestigious honour.”
Since then, the band has performed at several major events, including leading the St Patrick’s Day parades in both Glasgow and London, where they were invited by Mayor Sadiq Khan. While also hosting their own concert at Celtic Connections, and played for the Donegal and Tyrone Masters in Clydebank.
Now, the focus is firmly on Sunday’s performance at Croke Park.
“We appreciate how huge an honour it is to perform at Croke Park on All-Ireland semi-final day. The band were ecstatic. It was a hugely emotional moment for us—not only as a collective community, but as individual families and people.
“The GAA has always been a massive part of our lives here. What the GAA represents, and what Croke Park represents, has a huge emotional pull on all of us.”