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Last Updated: Mar 24, 2017 - 11:15:16 PM |
DUBLIN, Ireland - The Bahamas All Star Marching Band has done it once again by representing our country well in another unforgettable performance abroad.
The name “Bahamas All Stars” should be very familiar; this is not their first performance for an international audience.
Since its inception in 2011, the All Stars have participated in numerous events both locally and internationally such as the Florida Blue Classics: Battle of the Bands; Howard University Homecoming in Washington, DC; the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City; Battle for Atlantis and many others.
For the past years through various scholarship opportunities, hard work, focus and dedication we have had over 90 members pursuing their education abroad in various colleges and universities; not to mention here in The Bahamas at our very own University, and of course other uniform branches of the government.
The Marching Band has recently traveled to Ireland to participate in the 2017 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the city of Dublin. The invitation was extended to the Band by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ni Dhálaigh, which he explained the many performance opportunities included performing for millions of people locally and millions more televised audiences.
After receiving this invitation, the Bahamas All Star Marching Band embarked on a fund raising journey they named “Road to Dublin”.
Immediately after “Road to Dublin” was in full swing, the Bahamas All Stars began all of the preparations, which included putting together a strong itinerary for a full week long tour of Ireland.
On Saturday March 11, the Bahamas All Star Marching got on a Bahamasair flight into Orlando, Florida, where they awaited the arrival of the Aer Lingus flight into Dublin, Ireland. The long flight time set at 7 hours and 20 minutes was the first of its kind for many in the Marching Band. For the majority of the Bahamas All Stars members, traveling across the Atlantic Ocean was a first time experience and also for some, it was their first time traveling outside of the country.
The Marching Band arrived at Dublin International Airport on the Sunday morning of March 12. Afterwards, the All Stars met with tour guides and bus drivers. The journey began by heading to the west coast of Ireland to Country Claire where the All Stars were taken on a scenic bus ride. The first stop was the Cliffs of Moher, which is a series of cliffs about 700 feet in height and perched over at the Atlantic Ocean. The group got a chance to climb two of these cliffs to take photos and visit the gift shop.
Afterwards, the All Stars got on the buses to catch a ferry across the River Shannon then onward to a coastal mountain ride into Country Kerry. The All Stars spent two nights in a small fishing village known as Dingle.
The following day (Monday March 13), the All Stars experienced some of Ireland’s wildest and most natural beauty, and most ancient Christian sights. As they drove through Sleigh Head road, they enjoyed the scenery of “40 shades of Green”, the waves from the Atlantic Ocean crashing on to the rocks and counting endless sheep on miles of green fields along the way. The All Stars made a quick stop at a local sheep farm where a few of them got to hold a lamb and pet some sheep. Further down the road, they stopped at a local beach where they drew their brand “BAS 242” in the sand.
After returning to Dingle, the All Stars got a chance to walk around a portion of the small fishing village of Dingle. Back at the hotel, the All Stars were able to get in a practice session on the open field where they gained some new fans that had just heard them play for the first time. Numerous people were amazed and excited to know more about this band from The Bahamas.
The following morning (Tuesday March 14), the All Stars loaded up their belongings onto the busses and headed back on tour en route to a little village called Blarney. The castle, known for it's famous “Blarney Stone” is one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting Ireland. It is said that by kissing the “Blarney Stone” you will receive the “gift of gab” meaning the ability to talk your way out of anything. The All Stars got an opportunity to explore the castle grounds and quite a few climbed to the top of the castle to kiss the “Blarney Stone”. Later that night, the Marching Band arrived in Cork City where they spent one night in another hotel before heading back out on tour.
After breakfast (Wednesday, March 15), the band members got back on the buses and headed to country Wicklow and visited the ancient site of Glendalough, located in the beautiful Wicklow Mountains. Here, the All Stars learned a little bit of the history of the area and continued to enjoy the beautiful scenic view. Afterwards the band members got to explore and enjoy a brief hike before setting up a small picnic on the beautiful Wicklow Mountains. During this time, a few of the parents decided to have their picnic in the grave yard embracing their Irish roots with their ancestors.
From here, they boarded the busses for a 1.5 hour drive to the main destination, which is Dublin, Ireland. The band enjoyed great Irish food and Irish folk music at O’flahearty’s. Many of the All Stars were very interactive with the live musicians on stage.
The following morning (Thursday March 16) the band members toured the city of Dublin before performing at Mansion House for the Lord Mayor of Dublin. By that afternoon, the Bahamas All Stars had gained even more fans after performing in front of Mansion House for they were the only band that was invited to perform at this location. Passersby stopped to watch the performance and to cheer for the Bahamas All Stars Marching Band.
The big day had arrived (Friday March 17) (St. Patrick’s Day Parade), the All Stars gathered in the ballroom after breakfast for a moment of prayer and inspiration. Afterwards, they all boarded the busses to head to the inner city of Dublin. When they arrive they proceeded to line up with the other bands and began to warm up. During the wait the All-Stars interacted with other bands through music and taking photos. The entire parade route was about 3 miles long and the All Stars rocked the crowd the entire way through musical performance and vocal chanting. The All Stars were filled with such enthusiasm; they had the crowd excited for more.
At the end of the parade, the Bahamas All Stars marching band won the “Discretionary Award” for winning the “Hearts of the city and judges” along with a “Participation Award”. A few of the band members and the directors conducted interviews with radio and television stations from Ireland, Scotland and England.
The Bahamas All Stars Marching Band has done so much over the past years and is looking forward to continuing its journey around the world through “Music, Rythm and Dance”.
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
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