'Macroom is truly the place of céad míle fáilte': US band return for St Patrick's Day parade

The Philadelphian Woodland String Band, which spent a week in quarantine in the town's Castle Hotel at the start of covid in 2020, are delighted to be taking part in this year's parade

The Woodland String Band in front of Macroom Castle. Picture: Lee Valley Enterprise Board

An American band is heading back to a Cork town for the upcoming St Patrick’s Day parade, in the hope it will not be like their last visit.

Three years ago, the band's grand plans literally changed in mid-air when Ireland was plunged into a covid-19 lockdown and the 169 members spent a full week quarantined in the Castle Hotel in Macroom instead of exploring the country.