The American band which marched in Dublin's St Patrick's Day parade without any instruments following an airline mix-up has ended its Irish visit on a happy note.
The 170-strong group of students and parents from the Horizon High School of Denver, Colorado, flew from Dublin to the United States yesterday after what they said was an "amazing experience".
Bob Wagner, the director of bands at the school, said "the kids were very moved by the response of the Dublin crowds and the standing ovations they received from the reviewing stands".
Trombone player Michael Drotar (16) said "the good spirit in the crowd kept us going", while drum captain Chris Stolz (17) said he'd "always think of it as a great day". The school was presented with the Marching Band Spirit of the Parade award by the Dublin organisers.
Before their departure, John Icabone, president of Celestial Travel in Denver, said the teenagers were "very disappointed" when their luggage and instruments were lost by United Airlines on their way to Ireland last week. The group travelled from Colorado to Dublin via Washington and London but their luggage and instruments went astray at Washington DC's Dulles airport. Mr Icabone said they had flown the London-Dublin leg of the journey with Aer Lingus, which had been "spectacularly helpful".
Reunited with both uniforms and instruments, the students embarked on a short tour of the country which ended in Kilkenny where a free concert was held on Tuesday night at the Ormonde Hotel. Duty-manager David Rhatigan explained that the hotel had offered the venue free of charge because the Dublin disappointment "must have been terrible for the kids".
The concert ensemble played a selection of airs by American composers and received a rapturous reception. John Furlong, their Irish tour organiser, told the audience that despite marching with no instruments, they had become "the most famous band in the world having been seen by millions of television viewers in Ireland and across the world".