Inbhear Mór Marchers

2009 USA & Canada Tour

12th - 23rd August

On August 12^th, 53 members & supporters of the Inbhear Mor Marchers set off from their home town of Arklow, Ireland to embark on a 12 day tour of the USA & Canada.

The tour kicked off in New York City as the band landed into JFK Airport on Wednesday morning. The first 3 days of the tour were spent in NYC as the Arklow group explored what the Big Apple had to offer. Highlights from the New York visit included – Tour of Manhattan, The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, shopping on 5^th Avenue, Times Square & The Lion King on Broadway. 

While in New York, the band picked up their equipment truck packed with top quality brass, woodwind, percussion and colourguard equipment which prepared them for their US performances.  While touring, all equipment and rehearsal facilities were provided by local US based High School Bands & Drum Corps.

(Above) Inbhear Mor’s Guard receiving expert tuition at the Bushwackers Colorguard Clinic

The bands first performance took place on Saturday night as the band performed their 2009 production “Celtic Thunder” at the “Jersey Shore Invitational” show which was hosted by DCA & the local “Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps” in New Jersey. As part of this show the band also attended a drum corps clinic which was a valuable learning experience as the band had the opportunity to learn and play among top American drum corps and marching bands.

                                

(Above Left) Ciaran Kennedy & (Above Right) Yorika Higashika of the Inbhear Mor Marchers performing at the Jersey Shore Show in Toms River, New Jersey 

From New Jersey, the band moved on to Canada where they stayed for 3 nights. While on the Canadian leg of the tour the band visited Niagara Falls where they had the opportunity to travel right up to the soaring falls on the Maid of the Mist boat trip.  Next stop off was the beautiful city of Toronto where the group soared to new heights visiting the top of the CN Tower. While in Toronto the group also enjoyed a night of American Baseball at the Rogers Skydome Stadium where the Toronto BlueJays took on the Boston RedSox.

The group then moved back into the US for more performances and over the next week, travelled down through the beautiful towns and cities of upstate New York stopping off at Buffalo, Rochester & Norwich.  Highlights from this portion of the tour for the younger members included a trip to New Yorks best theme park – Darien Lakes. On Friday evening the band were welcomed to the city of Rochester by the Rochester branch of Ceoltis Ceoltori na hEireann as the local Irish / American musicians and singers from Rochester joined the Arklow group for a great evening of Irish music. The band was very well received and the local Ceoltis community of Rochester paid great tributes to the vast array of musical talent in the Arklow band.

On Saturday the band moved on to Norwich, NY where they performed their Celtic show to a packed stadium at the brand new Norwich High School Stadium. The show which features fiery Celtic music such as Riverdance & Lord of Dance was a huge hit with the local crowds and as the band closed their show with An Irish Party in 3^rd Class by Celtic Storm, they brought the audience to their feet with a rapturous standing ovation. At the closing ceremony of the show the band made special presentations to Tom Peashey & Diann Meek of DCA for their help and support in planning the tour.

The band director Mary Kirwan made a very special presentation of a hand crafted Plaque with the Arklow crest to the Mayor of Norwich, NY Mr. Joe Silvano as a show of appreciation for the very warm welcome that the Arklow band received.

Apart from the great experience of visiting the world famous sites and attractions that the USA & Canada have to offer, the tour proved to be a very valuable educational experience for the 40 piece Arklow band who are currently in their 17^th year. The band earned great praise throughout the trip for all of their performances and were recognised as great ambassadors for Arklow & Ireland.

(Above left) Sinead Bracken & (Above Right) Eddie Canavan & Sean McManus performing at the Norwich NY show.

The bands Music & Show Director Oisin Molloy said that “It has been by far the best tour we have ever been on and it was a great honour for us to represent Arklow at such high calibre events across the water.  This trip is one that will always be remembered by our very hard working & dedicated members and supporters”. 

The band will be recruiting new members for their 2010 season in early October. If anyone is interested in joining the band, please e mail info@inbhearmormarchers.org