Purdue band to march in Ireland St. Patty's parade

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue University's marching band will travel to Ireland next month during spring break to participate in Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

This will be the first time the band's 91-year-old Big Bass Drum will travel abroad. The drum hasn't accompanied the band on previous overseas trips to because of challenges surrounding its size and weight.

More than 200 family members and band boosters will travel with the 300-person band to Ireland on March 10. The public is invited to a celebration at Nine Irish Brothers on March 3. The West Lafayette and Lafayette locations will donate 10 percent of their proceeds that day to the band's travel fund. The event will include Irish music and giveaways as well as appearances by the Big Bass Drum and Purdue's twirlers.