Assumption girls to take part in New York St Patrick’s Day parade

Assumption girls to take part in New York St Patrick’s Day parade

21 February 2024

ASSUMPTION Grammar School students are going Stateside for St Patrick’s Day.

Members of the school choir, along with musicians and Irish dancers, have been invited to take part in the world famous St Patrick’s Day parade in New York.

This year’s parade will take place on March 16 owing to St Patrick’s Day falling on a Sunday.

This trip of a lifetime was planned for four years ago, but unfortunately it had to be cancelled three days before departure because of the Covid pandemic. 

Thankfully, the Ballynahinch school has been invited back again to march in the parade under the Co Down banner.

As part of their visit to the ‘Big Apple’, the girls will also be holding a concert on St Patrick’s Day in the beautiful venue of the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer High School.

Students and staff will be spending a couple of days alongside the students from St Vincent Ferrer preparing for the concert.

St Vincent Ferrer is also an all-girls school and there has been a great deal of planning and co-ordinating programmes over the last six months.

The Assumption choir will be singing at 9am Mass in the iconic St Patrick’s Cathedral on St Patrick’s Day, where they will meet Cardinal Dolan of New York.  

Assumption vice-principal, Marcelle Orsi expressed their girls’ excitement about the upcoming trip.

“We were devastated not to make it to New York four years ago.  Everything was ready and we had spent months organising the trip, only to be advised not to go a few days before departure,” she said.

“Of course, looking back, it was absolutely the right thing to do but it meant 60 very disappointed students never made it to New York City. 

“However, we decided to give the trip another go and this time there are 69 students and eight staff members heading out on March 14. 

The first few days will be preparing for the concert but the girls – and staff – are very excited about marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  To represent Co Down and our school is such a privilege and we are very honoured to be asked.”

Mrs Orsi continued: “It is also a real coup to be asked to sing at the 9am Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on St. Patrick’s Day where we hope to meet Cardinal Dolan, a man who is very proud of his Irish roots. 

“The next couple of days will be spent seeing the amazing sights of New York, as well as experiencing a Broadway show.

“It is a very expensive trip as the girls have to hire instruments as well as pay for all their meals and transport so we are busy trying to fundraise to make it less expensive for them.  Our musicians and dancers have spent months preparing for this and it should be a trip that is accessible to all.

“We have a JustGiving page set up, as well as a raffle with amazing prizes. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the school reception.  We are so appreciative of local businesses and the community for all the support they have offered us so far.”

She added: “We know our students will make the school and Co Down very proud.”

To make a donation go to the JustGiving website at www.justgiving.com and search for ‘Assumption Music Trip to New York 2024’.

Prizes for the raffle include an overnight stay at Rosses Point in Co Sligo and an overnight stay in The Artisan in Strangford. Tickets are available from the school reception and the draw will take place on Monday, March 4.