Pride of the Mountains to Ireland
Pride of the Mountains
to
Ireland
The Pride of the Mountains Marching Band has been selected as one of two U.S bands
to represent the United States at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ireland! They will
also have the opportunity to visit many iconic sights during their trip. Follow along
on Pride of the Mountains social media channels!
Instagram Facebook
Off we go…
What does it take to get such a large group to Ireland? 6 charter buses, 6 different flights, a box truck for instruments, and a lot of logistical coordination.
On Monday, March 11th, Pride of the Mountains embarked on their first international trip. For many students, it is their first time leaving the United States. Feelings of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation filled the air as the approximately 250 members departed Cullowhee.
The band arrived in Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday morning and didn't waste any time getting started exploring. They began with a bus tour of Dublin to familiarize themselves with the city. Then, made stops at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and Saint Patrick's Cathedral before heading to the hotel to eat dinner and get some much needed sleep.
The first stop was EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, a fully interactive museum that brings Irish history to life and provides the opportunity to learn about the impact that the 10 million Irish men and women who left Ireland had on the world.
Taking in History
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Ireland and has been at the
heart of Dublin and Ireland’s history and culture for over 800 years. Students were
able to go inside to admire the incredible architecture, beautiful stained-glass windows, and important artifacts.
The stained-glass windows found in the cathedral were made by a variety of different artists, each bringing their own unique look to the space. The beautiful spiral staircase leads to an organ, which is still used today to accompany the choir during services. The cathedral is also home to many artifacts such as those from Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver's Travels and former Dean of the Cathedral) and the Knights of Saint Patrick.
