Bands of brothers

Irish and Russian armies went toe-to-toe in musical battle yesterday, to the delight of more than 40,000 people who thronged Limerick for an international bands parade.

On the dot of noon, with military precision, Capt Brian Prendergast led the 30-strong Band of the First Southern Brigade, based at Collins Barracks, Cork, followed by Col Pavel Mozgarov and the 48 members of the Russian Central Band.

The 20 bands which took part in the spectacular event included four American high school and college bands who also found getting to the parade a logistical task of military proportions.