Clover will represent South Carolina on an international stage.
Since 1996, the city of Dublin has hosted an annual festival celebrating their national holiday. St. Patrick’s Festival entails a four-day city-wide celebration honoring Irish national and cultural pride. The largest part of the festival occurs on the third day (on the holiday itself) with the parade, featuring performing arts troupes and ensembles from around the world.
Clover HS follows Fort Mill HS and Furman University last year in representing South Carolina in Dublin. Clover has already had a busy week, performing in Larne, Northern Ireland, a town that was twinned with the town of Clover in 1996. Their performance came as a surprise and delight for many in town – just check out this BBC article on the performance for proof!
The Dublin parade begins on Granby Row, nearby St. Mary’s Chapel of Ease (Known colloquially as “The Black Church”) before proceeding through Parnell Square, southward down O’Connell Street, crossing the River Liffey, turning west onto Dame Street, South onto Nicholas Street, before ending with an eastward march on Kevin Street nearby St. Stephens Green. The route itself is roughly 3.4km (2.1 miles).
If you are seeing this article before Sunday at 8am EST, then we expect the parade to be streamed live and free on the RTE Player and irishcentral.com. Congratulations to the Bands of Clover on this incredible achievement, and bravo for representing our state so well overseas!
The full list of Marching Bands participating in the 2024 St. Patricks Festival are:
Clondalkin Youth Band, Dublin, Ireland
Homewood High School Patriot Band, Homewood, Alabama
The Pride of Clover Marching Band, Clover, SC
University of Missouri – Marching Mizzou, Columbia, MS
St. Vincent-St. Mary High School Fighting Irish Marching Band, Akron, OH
Science Hill High School Hilltopper Marching Band, Johnson City, TN
Youngsville High School Marching Eagles, Youngsville, PA
John F. Kennedy High School Shamrock Regiment, La Palma, CA
Bagad Kemper, Brittany, France
Olentangy Orange High School Marching Pioneers, Lewis Center, OH
Flute Band Association of Northern Ireland
Lakeville South Marching Cougars, Lakeville, MN
Noblesville High School Marching Millers, Indianapolis, IN
Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, Cullowhee, NC
