International Band Parade in need of a revamp, says councillor
LIMERICK'S International Band Parade and Competition is in need of a serious revamp after just one international band took part this year, a city councillor has said.
Sinn Fein city councillor Maurice Quinlivan said whilst the parade was enjoyable it is "not being fully realised".
A highly acclaimed American band were due to take part this year, but we prevented from flying to Shannon at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances.
"This year's event saw no American bands and virtually no international acts. In September 2009 Mayor Kevin Kiely and a senior City Council official went to America.
"Like Limerick's answer to Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh they flew out to recruit bands for this year's competition. The net result of the mayor's efforts was for the first time I ever remember we had no American band participating in the competition.
"In actual fact with the exception of five German musicians, entertaining and all as they were, we had no international band travel from overseas to attend this year's event. We cannot continue with a "so called" international band parade and competition without any international acts," said Cllr Quinlivan.
Disappointment was expressed by some in attendance that the event attracted just 14 bands this year, when in its peak as many as 30 bands took part in the parade. Numbers dwindled in recent years, but this year's event saw a slight increase on last year's festival.
The event attracted some 500 musicians, but the greatly anticipated American band, the Pride of Acadiana from Louisiana, which were unable to attend the event due to storms and flight disruptions in the United States.
Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Kevin Kiely, said 20 bands were confirmed up to the last minute, but a number dropped out and circumstances beyond his control prevented the American band from flying into Shannon at 6am on Sunday.
"I can't do anything about flights or the weather. It takes a couple of years to build up the confidence of American organisers. I didn't expect instant results, but I'm confident that we'll reverse this situation in the coming years. It takes a year or two of planning to get American bands to come here, due to fundraising and other issues. They can't just decide 'We'll take a band over to Limerick next week'," said the Mayor.
Yet the 40th international band parade, which was led by the Irish Army Band, drew an estimated 30,000 people to the city.
Eoghan Prendergast of Shannon Development, which supported this year's event, said they will be bringing more bands to Limerick in the years ahead.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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