Football success has Fighting Irish band planning two shows 

While the afternoon rain storms have kept temperatures down, they have also kept the Dublin High School Fighting Irish Band off the practice field. But that has not stopped them for preparing a funk-and-soul halftime show in 2025.

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The Dublin High School Marching Band performs on the first day of school/SPECIAL PHOTOS

While the afternoon rain storms have kept temperatures down, they have also kept the Dublin High School Fighting Irish Band off the practice field. But that has not stopped them for preparing a funk-and-soul halftime show in 2025.

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“What we have to do is be flexible,” said Dublin High band director Marcus Rayner. “We do an outdoor activity so we have to make the adjustments.” 

Even if it rains on Fridays for the game, the band has ponchos and ways to protect the instruments. The big thing is to be at the football game to help the fans cheer on the team.

“We want to support the process and legacy of Dublin Fighting Irish football, and we’re a very integral part of the Friday night experience,” Rayner said. “We want to make sure that we’re in place. The cheerleaders depend on us, and the fans depend on us. We’re going to be out here doing our job. We’re in a good place with the students.” 

Rayner plans to have two different halftime shows this year. Their first theme will be a “funk-and-soul” show. This will include some songs from the 1970s and early 1980s.

“These will be some crowd-pleasing music that is fun for us,” Rayner said. “We are going to open up with some ‘Fantastic Voyage’ before going to ‘Get Down On It’ by Kool and the Gang. Then we’ll move on to ‘Play That Funky Music’ and ‘That’s the Way (I Like It.)’ Then we’ll do some George Clinton and Funkadelic and ‘One Nation Under Groove’ and ‘Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)’ and we’ll feature a little bit of the Ohio Players with ‘Fire.’

“We want to connect with music that the audience can relate to and connect to and the younger kids will think it is pretty groovy and want to know the name of that song.” 

The second show will feature music from The Gap Band.

“It’s a group of music that we will try to compete with,” Rayner said. “Also, I want to do two shows because a lot of times with Dublin Fighting Irish football, we tend to go further in the playoffs. So about midway through the season, I want to be able to change the show for the audience. We plan for an extended season.” 

Because of the football team’s usual success, Rayner plans on having 15 halftime performances.

“I’m always planning for us to go all the way,” he said. “I’ve told the band not to make any plans late in the season because we need a good representation of students.”

Dublin’s band currently does not have a drum major.

“Right now we are in drum major candidacy,” Rayner said. “We have some students who have been providing leadership. But, sometimes we have to be careful as to which person we pull from the horn line. … We have some good candidates and some good seniors. It will shake itself out.” 

The band was in the stands on Friday in the Fighting Irish’s scrimmage against Hawkinsville. They will return on Aug. 15 when Dublin hosts Swainsboro in The Shamrock Bowl.

“This is a new year, but we want to keep the same traditions that  the band program has,” Rayner said. “This is my seventh year here at Dublin High School. It is exciting and the band is growing by leaps and bounds. Their sound is maturing and their confidence is building. 

“We’re looking to do as Dublin Superintendent Fred Williams says, ‘Be loud and proud.’ We are going to do what we are supposed to do to enhance that Friday night experience.”

Members of the Dublin High School Fighting Irish band practice inside a gymnasium hallway/SPECIAL PHOTO
Author

A go-to reporter wearing a variety of hats, Payton stays on top of local matters in the areas of politics, crime, courts, public safety and humanitarianism, just to name a few. He also writes frequent human interest pieces and holds down the City of Dublin and Laurens County Schools government beats. Originally from Milledgeville, he has resided and worked in Dublin since joining The Courier Herald in 2005.

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