News

St Roch’s Marching Band to Perform at Half-Time During Donegal vs Meath Semi-Final at Croke Park

Glasgow’s St Roch’s Marching Band, winners of the 2024 All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann in Wexford, will perform at half-time during the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final between Donegal and Meath on Sunday 13 July 2025 at Croke Park, Dublin.

The performance is especially meaningful for the band given their close personal and cultural ties to County Donegal. Many members have family roots stretching across Inis Eoghain, Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Na Rosa, An Clochán Liath, and beyond — with connections running deep throughout the county. This semi-final appearance at Croke Park represents a moment of immense pride for them and their families. The band is ecstatic to be part of such a prestigious occasion and is honoured to perform during this clash between Dún na nGall and their worthy and respected competitors, Meath.

The band also wishes to pay tribute to the rich and proud marching band tradition of Donegal, which many of us witnessed and admired each summer growing up and visiting Ireland. We hold deep respect for the dedication and excellence of bands such as the Maghery Marching Band, led by Karl Doherty who was instrumental in providing guidance and support to us last year, and our fellow All-Ireland Fleadh competitors from last year, the outstanding Cloghaneely Marching Band. It was an honour to share the stage in Wexford with such talented and passionate musicians who represent the very best of Donegal’s cultural legacy.

The invitation, extended by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), marks a historic moment that honours the Irish community in Scotland and forms part of the celebrations for Glasgow’s 850th anniversary. The performance is a tribute to the enduring cultural connections between Ireland and Scotland, and a celebration of the Glasgow Irish community on Gaelic Games’ biggest stage.

Roisin Anne Hughes, Band Leader, said:

“Croke Park is one of the most iconic venues in Irish life. We’re looking forward to enjoying the occasion, performing with pride, and representing the Glasgow Irish community on this remarkable stage.”

In addition to strong Donegal roots, the band also proudly includes members with family links to Derry, Tyrone, Down, Monaghan, Leitrim, and Mayo — reflecting the rich and diverse heritage of Ireland’s counties within the Glasgow Irish community.

🎶A Standout Year for St Roch’s

Mairead MacNeil, band member, said:

“It’s been an unforgettable year. We hosted our own concert at Celtic Connections, led the Glasgow and London St. Patrick’s Festival Parades, and played for the Donegal and Tyrone Masters in Clydebank. Winning the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford was a huge honour — and now to perform at Croke Park, during a Donegal semi-final no less, is the perfect culmination to a year we’ll never forget.

We’re incredibly grateful to our families, our community, and all who’ve supported us throughout the year. Special thanks to Tír Conaill Harps GAA Club for generously giving us use of their pitch to rehearse our performance — their support helped make this moment possible.

We’re also thankful to Consul General Jerry O’Donovan, Jenn Treacy, Jarlath Burns, and to Frank McArdle and the Irish Minstrels Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, whose dedication to music and culture has empowered us across generations.”

🟢 Celebrating the Glasgow Irish as Part of Glasgow 850

This performance also celebrates the vital contributions of the Irish community in Scotland — from the era of An Gorta Mór to the present day — in areas such as:
• Infrastructure and hydroelectric power
• Construction and agriculture
• Public services including the NHS and education
• Modern business and renewable energy

Culturally, the Irish diaspora continues to thrive and shape life in Scotland through:
• Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
• Conradh Na Gaeilge
• Irish dancing schools
• Scottish GAA
• The iconic Celtic Football Club

Jennifer Treacy, Chair of Scotland GAA, said:

“This historic moment celebrates not only All-Ireland Champions St Roch’s, but the vibrant Irish community across Glasgow and Scotland. With the Diaspora Consultation beginning in July and the Pearse Park Centre for Culture and Sport in development, this performance highlights the importance of a lasting home for Irish culture in Scotland.”

Jerry O’Donovan, Irish Consul General for Scotland, commented:

“To perform at Croke Park is a rare honour — and for a band from outside of Ireland, it’s especially meaningful. This invitation reflects the commitment of St Roch’s and Comhaltas to Irish music and culture in Scotland, and the growing strength of our cross-community ties.”

Katy McNeil, Head of the Scottish Government Office in Ireland, added:

“We’re thrilled to see St Roch’s perform on such a prestigious stage. It’s a proud moment for Glasgow and Scotland, and a fitting way to celebrate the close cultural links between our two nations during the Glasgow 850 celebrations.”