Source: University of Florida News
By Blake Trauschke
What does it take to get a 342-piece marching band to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day? For starters, 11 flights from six different airports, eight charter buses for the student performers and 20 staff members, nine hotels and 139 instruments and color guard flag bags that needed to be checked baggage at the airports alongside the 203 carried-on instruments and twirling batons.
The University of Florida Fightin’ Gator Marching Band performed at three events across Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day: a parade in Cork, an international band competition in Limerick and a concert in Dublin.
“We have had a standing invitation to go to Ireland for several years, and this is the first year that it has aligned with spring break,” said Jay Watkins, associate director of bands. “I couldn’t be more proud of how they represented our university on the international stage.”
Weekend after weekend, students prepared for the international trip, practicing parade formations, music and the intricacies that each of the three performances called for.
Because of the size of the ensemble, departure was staggered, with groups bussed to Jacksonville, Orlando and Atlanta.
After hours of flights, buses and lugging instruments, batons and uniforms through airport terminals, everyone landed in Dublin to be taken to the Rock of Cashel on their way to Cork.