On March 16 the Pride of the Irish marching band will perform in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, marching the event’s entire route.

Director Mrs. Kathy McCullough wrote in an email, “We have been practicing inside and outside for the parade. The music we are playing is also going to Disney World when we are there (March 22 through March 26). We have practiced once outside last week, did a short parade yesterday for the Hibernians – which counts as a practice run-through and will be outside on Thursday and Friday this week to practice.”

The band will play three songs. “First is the first half of an Irish medley that the band has played all 21 years I’ve been here. Second is our senior bagpiper, Robert Wood, playing one of several Irish tunes. Third, we play the long version of the Cathedral school song. In-between each song will be percussion cadences, and a small group of percussionists plays along with Robert’s bagpipes, too.  The color guard has routines to the first and third songs, and our feature twirler twirls through the whole parade,” McCullough said.

An Irish holiday for an Irish school, students and staff love St. Patrick’s Day and the parade that accompanies it. McCullough’s favorite part is “seeing the excitement on the children’s faces while we play — they jump up and down and imitate instruments and sing along during our school song. The people along the parade route are so happy and excited and love seeing and hearing the Pride of the Irish perform and that is just a fantastic way to spend St. Patrick’s Day.  

The Pride of the Irish is the first band in the line-up. She wrote, “We get to start off the parade with our Irish spirit, energy and music.  

Because of the band’s participation in the parade, as well as that of other school groups, March 16 is a day off school.