Glasgow's Irish community to be celebrated with St Roch's performance
The invitation was made by the GAA to honour the Irish community in Scotland in as part of the 850 celebrations and spotlight 'County Glasgow' on Ireland's biggest stage.
The semi-finalists are yet to be decided but it could include the Donegal team, which is the county in Ireland where many members of the band have strong connections too.
Roisin Anne Hughes, band leader, said: 'Croke Park is one of the most iconic venues in Irish life. We're looking forward to enjoying the occasion, performing with pride, and representing the Glasgow Irish community on this remarkable stage.'
Roisin Anne Hughes is the band leader (Image: Robert Perry)
Mairead MacNeil, band member, added: 'It's been an unforgettable year. We hosted our own concert at Celtic Connections, led the Glasgow and London St. Patrick's Festival Parades, and played for the Donegal and Tyrone Masters in Clydebank. Winning the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford was a huge honour — and now to play in Croke Park is the perfect ending to a year we'll never forget.
'We're incredibly grateful to our families, our community, and everyone who has supported us across the years and especially this year. Particular thanks go to Consul General Jerry O'Donovan, Jenn Treacy and Jarlath Burns of the GAA, and to Frank McArdle and the teachers at the Irish Minstrels Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann who empowered us through music over multiple generations'
The performance will serve as a celebration of the Irish community's contribution to Glasgow and Scotland from the days of An Gorta Mór to the present day and as well as the marching band, will showcase the development of the GAA in Scotland.
The Glasgow Irish community has produced All-Ireland champions and finalists across every field of Irish cultural life - and continues to inspire and thrive today.
Jennifer Treacy, Chair of Scotland GAA, said: 'We are incredibly proud of this historic moment for All-Ireland Champions St Roch's Marching Band. This milestone not only celebrates the vibrant Irish community and diaspora throughout Glasgow and Scotland but also strengthens the bonds between our two nations through shared cultural heritage.
'With the Diaspora Consultation beginning in July and the Pearse Park Centre for Culture and Sport in development, this is a significant step toward a permanent home for Irish culture in Scotland'.
Jerry O'Donovan, The Irish Consul General for Scotland added: 'I am delighted that the St Roch's Marching Band have been asked to perform during half time at the All-Ireland Football Semi-Final in the 82,000 seat headquarters of the GAA, Croke Park. It is a huge honour for any group to perform at this very special venue, and for a group outside of Ireland to be asked is a particularly special achievement.
Read More
'This invitation from GAA headquarters is a testament that the work of St Roch's, and more broadly Comhaltas in Scotland, have carried out in promoting Irish music and culture in Scotland.
'This performance speaks to the strong community links between Scotland and Ireland which continue to grow from strength to strength as well as the vibrant musical and cultural scene that currently exists within the Irish community in Glasgow as it marks its 850th anniversary. I wish the band the very best and look forward to tuning in next month.'
Katy McNeil Head of Scottish Government Office in Ireland said: 'The Scottish Government Office in Ireland was thrilled to hear of St Roch's Marching Band's success in the All-Ireland Fleadh last year.
'It is an honour for St Roch's, for Glasgow and for Scotland, that they are the first band from outside Ireland to play at the iconic Croke Park for the GAA All Ireland Senior Football Semi-Final.
'It is a fitting way to celebrate the close cultural links between Scotland and Ireland, and the Glasgow 850 celebrations. We look forward to welcoming the band to Dublin in July.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
33 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Scottish Premiership side left stunned as European club announce transfer of star BEFORE paperwork is completed
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SERIE A side Lecce have stunned Kilmarnock by parading Corrie Ndaba with a club scarf as the Rugby Park outfit still waited for official deal confirmation. The Irish defender travelled to Italy to complete the formalities of a six-figure transfer after a bid had been accepted. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Corrie Ndaba in training for Killie Credit: SNS 3 Kilmarnock's Ndaba tussles for the ball against Kelty Hearts Credit: SNS 3 Corrie Ndaba poses with Lecce scarf but Kilmarnock claim the deal hasn't been finalised Credit: X/Lecce But just an hour after Killie's 4-0 Premier Sports Cup victory over East Fife, Lecce posted photos of the 25-year-old with their club colours. On X the club posted: "The footballer Corrie Ndaba arrived in Bressanone in the late afternoon, where he began undergoing medical examinations that will be completed on Monday." But Killie boss Stuart Kettlewell had also told reporters post-match there was "nothing" to report on Ndaba. Killie feel the Italians have jumped the gun believing Ndaba's medical and paperwork have still to be fully completed. But the expectation is he will become a Lecce player within 24-hours. The Republic of Ireland youth international will become the latest player to make the move from Scottish football to Italy. He'll follow in the footsteps of the likes of Bologna's Lewis Ferguson, as well as Josh Doig and Lewis Henderson. Scotland national team stars Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour had outstanding seasons for Napoli, helping them to lift the Scudetto. McTominay was even named Serie A's player of the year. Ndaba came through the Ipswich youth ranks but never played a competitive league match for the Tractor Boys. Stuart Kettlewell reveals if he regrets quitting Motherwell in exclusive first interview He instead had several loans spells, including one at Killie's local rivals, Ayr United. According to Sky Italy, Ndaba will sign a three-year deal with the option of extending for a further two. Ndaba made 38 appearances in all competitions for Killie last season as a key member of the squad under Derek McInnes. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Ireland seal ODI victory against Zimbabwe
First One Day International, StormontIreland 288-9 (50 overs): Forbes 54; Ndlovu 3-50, Tshuma 2-37Zimbabwe 191 all out (48.1 overs): Mugeri-Tiripano 48; Kelly 2-17, Prendergast 2-20Ireland won by 97 runsScorecardIreland Women won the first of two one-day internationals against Zimbabwe by 97 runs at Stormont on hosts completed a sweep of the T20 series between the nations earlier in the week and picked up where they left off in the 50-over was a day to remember for Amy Hunter as the 19-year-old's 43 runs saw her pass the 1000 mark in one-day cricket having previously reached that target in the T20 form of the Prendergast's 50 today also took her past 1000 in one-day cricket as she and Hunter join Gaby Lewis, Laura Delaney and Clare Shillington as the only Ireland women with over 1000 career runs in both won the toss and elected to put Ireland in to bat with Sarah Forbes and Gaby Lewis building a solid partnership before Lewis was caught by Tendai Makusha off the bowling of Lindokuhle Mabhero for would follow for 54 soon after, with Loreen Tshuma taking the wicket, but Predergast's half century would help grow Ireland's tally before Kelis Ndlovu took the first of her three 43 and Laura Laura Delany's 34 would put Ireland in a healthy position before the wickets began to fall late in the over with the hosts setting a target of made a shaky start to their innings with Chiedza Dhururu bowled by Predergast for just one and Tshuma followed for the same score soon was out for 21 from Arlene Kelly, who then removed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano for McBride would take the wickets of Beloved Biza and Modester Mupachikwa, and while Runyararo Pasipanodya posted 32 not out, Jane Maguire and Cara Murray took two wickets apiece to seal victory for teams will meet in the second and final ODI on Monday at Stormont.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Irish rugby legend Ronan O'Gara gets POOED ON live on Sky Sports after Lions' epic comeback win over Australia
RONAN O'GARA was given an unwelcome gift by a bird while LIVE on air. Irish rugby legend O'Gara was working as a pundit for Sky Sports during the British and Irish Lions clash with Australia earlier today. 5 5 5 5 5 However, a winged viewer flying by decided that the 48-year-old's coat needed some extra decoration. And while he stood alongside colleagues discussing Hugo Keenan's last-gasp winning try, Will Greenwood spotted that O'Gara had been POOED on. He said: "Oh a bird has just pooed on Ronan." The group then shared a laugh at O'Gara's expense as he frantically tried to find where Greenwood had pointed it out. A voice can then be heard saying: "That's lucky for some but not for Ronan." Fans behind the panel also poked fun at O'Gara for the unfortunate incident. Greenwood then adds: "La Rochelle are going to win the European Cup." O'Gara eventually laughs off the incident, though we expect his coat to receive some TLC to remove the poo. And while the unusual present might not be seen as too lucky by O'Gara, the Lions certainly did find some luck in their match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. They moved 2-0 over Australia in the series, but only after coming back from 26-17 down in the 53rd minute. Keenan's late winner has now set the scene for a potential clean sweep when the sides clash again at the weekend.
