Stolen Passport Threatens US St Patrick's Day Gigs for The Whistlin' Donkeys
A stolen passport, an Irish folk band, and the hope for "one more miracle" ahead of St Patrick's Day mark a challenging reality for The Whistlin' Donkeys.
The band was touring in Chicago earlier this week when their vehicle was broken into. Among the stolen items were equipment and luggage, but the most significant issue was the theft of band member Tomás Quinn's passport.
With assistance from Irish authorities in the US, Quinn managed to return home and has since been issued a new passport. However, the band is now racing to secure a new visa ahead of their planned St Patrick's Day performances in New York.
'Pure Panic Stations'
Lead singer Fergal McAloon described the situation as "pure panic stations" when the group discovered their vehicle had been vandalized.
"I knew my backpack was in the front seat and my passport was in it," he said.
"There was a lot of valuable instruments in the back... not to mention everyone's valuables and personal belongings."
McAloon explained that their initial step was to assess what was missing.
"It turns out they had left my backpack in the back, they had rummaged through it," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme.
"So I originally thought my passport was gone but I found it in the car, but we realised the only passport that was missing was Tomás'."
After contacting the Irish embassy in the US, a temporary passport was arranged for Quinn. Upon returning to Northern Ireland, Quinn was issued a full new passport on Tuesday by the Irish passport office.
Quinn has an emergency appointment with the US embassy in Ireland on Wednesday, and the band is hopeful for a "miracle" that his visa will be reissued in time.
Among the stolen items was also "valuable camera equipment" belonging to the band's drummer, Oscar Bradley.
The band is scheduled to perform for three days in New York as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations.
"We are really looking forward to it, the last weekend has taken the shine off it a bit but we're looking forward to it all the same," McAloon said.
He added that the band intends to keep their passports close moving forward to avoid repeating the mistake.
Who Are The Whistlin' Donkeys?
The Whistlin' Donkeys are an Irish folk and Celtic rock band originating from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.
The six-member group includes Fergal McAloon (lead singer), Tomás Quinn (banjo), Stephen Corrigan (guitar), Danny McCormick (bass), Michael Kerr (fiddle), and Oscar Bradley (drums).
The band has performed across the USA, Canada, Europe, and Ireland, entertaining audiences with their own songs and popular hits such as "Bee's Wing," "Travelin' Soldier," and "Dirty Old Town."
