Almost 40 students from the University of Louisiana at Monroe will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, when they march the capital’s annual parade.

The students are part of a group from the ULM Marching Band and the Choral Department. They will spend a week in Ireland from March 14-21.

As well as participating in Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, they will also give a concert at in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the City Hall in Limerick.

“I’m ecstatic,” sophomore flute player Nicole Pavlisin, told the New Star.com.

“I’m excited to tour Ireland and to be able to experience the culture and the music that’s different from our style.”

Jason Rinehart, assistant professor of music at ULM said the school made their first trip to Ireland in 2009.

“We try to take a trip every four years somewhere internationally to give each crop of students that overall experience of culture and music and life outside of Louisiana,” he said

He added: “We get to celebrate Louisiana in the world spotlight.”

Rinehart said the students will also get to see some of Ireland’s premier tourist attractions, such as Trinity College in Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle.

“Not only are we here to give these students a musical education, but a cultural education as well,” he said.