Saturday was a full day for the Irish Guard. Dublin High's band and color guard, parents and faculty left the high school at 6:30 a.m. to compete in the parade and field competition at the Cupertino Tournament of the Bands.

After a full day of performing, the marching band placed third in the parade competition in its division, behind Franklin and Fremont, but beating two other high schools. 

"This is the first time our school has done field competitions in 11 years," said Paul Everts, who has led the band for three years. 

The school competed in a new division this year. Divisions are based on size and the marching band has grown from 54 when Everts started, to 80. 

"To go from 50 to 80 (students) we went up one class, if not two," he said.

With 11 students on the color guard team, the group stands at 91. The color guard is taught by Evert's wife, Diana, who volunteers her time.

"We're a team," he said. The couple met as music majors at the University of the Pacific. She's a trombonist and he's a percussionist and they have a son and a daughter in the marching band.

The competition was Dublin's second of the season.  It scored 81.7 for the field show and 87.7 in the parade competition at Del Mar High School last week.

"To think they broke 80 for the first time (competing), that's commendable," said Evert.

The Dublin High School Marching Band will participate during homecoming week's rally Thursday and at Friday's homecoming football game.

For more information about the group, click here.