Marching bands on the beat at Coláiste Mhuire

Síofra Grant

Walking into the gym of Coláiste Mhuire on Friday week last, you might have thought you’d walked into an American high school as two marching bands stood readying themselves for an informal concert.

The floors were draped with colourful flags and hats with glittery feathers sat there waiting for the performance to begin. The hall echoed with chatter as students filed into the rows of seats eager to see what was to come.

Catalina Falcons Marching Band and the Mullingar Town Band stood on opposite sides of the hall (chosen because of its size, and as some band members are students at Coláiste Mhuire) tuning their instruments and practising their scales.

The Catalina Falcons had been travelling across Ireland a part of a group trip. The American band had asked their tour company to find a band of a similar age they could meet and play with, and thus they found their way to Mullingar.

“One of their tour companies got in touch with us seeing as we were kind of en route, so it kind of was convenient,” said Kim Magee, director, Mullingar Town Band.

Renee Shane Boyd from the Catalina Falcons said that was one of the most important parts of their trip. “It’s exciting for us. I told the kids it’s one of the best things we’ll be doing the whole trip. We really appreciate getting to do it.”

They were going to Dublin after Mullingar, then heading home. Addressing the crowd, Renee highlighted how enjoyable the band’s Irish tour has been. “We’ve really enjoyed touring and it’s been an amazing experience to see everything we’ve seen.

“We really want to thank you for your hospitality and for giving us this opportunity.”

There was a wonderful juxtaposition between the playlists from the two bands, as the Mullingar Town Band offered modern pop or rock n roll, and the Catalina Falcons returned with classic Americana.

They were the type of songs one might hear in the background of an old western, which was quite fitting considering where the Falcons are from. “We’re from Tucson, Arizona in the American southwest, which has the history of the wild west and the American cowboy.”

Kim Magee was delighted to host her American counterpart, especially after revealing that Mullingar Town Band are gearing up for a tour of the USA this summer.

“We’re going to America in July and so it was so fitting to have an American Band of the same age group come to visit us. They’re a high school band, we’re a community band, so while they’re quite similar, I’m looking forward to them sitting down and having a chat and seeing how that goes.” Following one of the Catalina performances, Kim underlined how special the moment was. “It’s such a privilege to hear that live,” she said.

The two directors had explained their roles as marching bands, their similarities and their differences.

“We obviously don’t have an American football team, but we adapt to the system here. We’re one of the few bands in Ireland that have any relation to the American Marching Band.”

But according to Kim, Ireland has a much deeper connection to American marching band culture that one might think. “I’ll let you in on a secret, that idea came from an Irish guy. It was a guy named Patrick Sarsfield, he came from Galway and he emigrated to America.”

The Mullingar Town Band trained through videos and YouTube so seeing the Catalina Falcons in action was extra special for them.

“We will be travelling to Washington and New York to celebrate the 250th Semiquincentennial – I’ve had to learn that word – in America on July 3 and 4 this year.

“This is a great kickstart to our trip to America.”

The Catalina Falcons, at the Kim’s request, closed the event with the phenomenal ‘Ghost riders in the Sky’.