Athlone Ravens Marching Band are to take part in the European marching bands championships, the first time ever that an Irish band has qualified for the international competition.
The 28 members of the junior Ravens band, aged between six and 16, are to travel to Limburg, Holland next Friday to take part in the DCE (Drum Corp Europe ) Championship Finals.
The qualification follows a victory last Saturday when the band scooped a coveted three-in-a-row, taking home their third All-Ireland title at the Irish Marching Bands Association (IMBA ) National Championships in Tallaght.
Corps director Colm Bolger is delighted and proud of the youngsters and the hard work they have put in to take them to this level.
“We are delighted, it is the first time an Irish band has qualified, so we are creating history for Irish bands. We will have 28 kids on the field, and they’ll be performing Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ in a 15-minute field show. This is the top class of European bands,” he said.
“It is the first time The Ravens will perform outside the country, and I know they will do Athlone and Ireland very proud. We couldn’t have a more talented group of children flying the Irish flag for us.”
A total of around 60 people, including supporters from the IMBA, are travelling to Holland with the band, and anyone who wishes to witness the performance in Parkstad Stadium can catch it live on the DCE website at around 3.15pm on Saturday September 24.
Donations and sponsorship to help fund the trip and the band’s activities would be greatly appreciated. Please contact corps director Colm Bolger at [email protected].
