American marching band to step out in Larne!

The Clover High School Band from South Carolina will be taking to the streets of Larne to play a medley of musical hits when they rock into the Borough this March!

The 160 strong band have been invited to take part in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin. 

Before the big event in Dublin, they are making a pit stop in Larne on 13 March 2024 – which is officially twinned with Clover in South Carolina – to perform their amazing music and spend the afternoon in the town learning more about Larne and its vibrant history.

The band will be accompanied by 100 parents and teachers. Their first stop will be a visit to Larne High School to meet pupils from the school – as well as Larne Grammar music students – and enjoy a short concert in their honour.

At 3pm they will bring all the colour and pageantry of an American marching band to the town, when they step out and parade through the town centre to Inver Park.

The parade route will include Main Street to High Street and then to Inver Road.

Following a short wreath laying ceremony at the town war memorial to commemorate American soldiers who trained in the area during the Second World War (and later taking part in the Normandy Landings) the band will headline a free public concert at Inver Park.

Gates will open from 3.30pm.  Everyone is invited along to enjoy the Inver Park event, which will include local Scottish and Irish dancers, plus the ALS Band – who will be performing American themed songs.

Among those attending the event as guests of Mayor Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna will be James Perry MBE, Deputy Lieutenant for County Antrim and Paul Roelle, representative of the US Consulate in Northern Ireland.