Packed Templeneiry Old Church hosts memorable international final in Bansha
There was a wonderful atmosphere in Templeneiry Old Church, Bansha, as a packed audience gathered for the final of the Tipperary International Song of Peace 2026, with Nashville-based songwriter Leslie Bowe taking the top honour with his composition “Imagine If”. The historic church provided a fitting and intimate setting for an evening celebrating music, songwriting and the universal message of peace. Chair of the judging panel Caitríona O’Sullivan, well known to television audiences as a regular judge on TG4’s Glór Tíre, had the honour of announcing the winner. In giving the judges’ decision, Caitríona complimented Leslie’s impressive vocal range and particularly noted the effective key changes within the winning composition.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Leslie Bowe is a songwriter with a passion for creating honest songs that tell real stories, touch hearts and celebrate the strength of the human spirit. His winning song, “Imagine If”, was co-written with Scott Voelkerding and Steve Smentek. The song grew from the writers’ shared belief that love, compassion and understanding still possess the power to bring people together. At a time when so much can appear to divide people, “Imagine If” asks listeners to picture a better world—one where love leads the way, hatred gives way to understanding and peace begins in the human heart. Importantly, the song goes beyond simply imagining such a world. Its message challenges each of us to play our own part and become the change we hope to see.
For his winning composition, Leslie Bowe received the Joe Quinn Award, together with the first prize cheque of €1,000. The award is a particularly meaningful one for the Tipperary International Song of Peace, remembering the late Joe Quinn, who gave many years of dedicated service to the cause of peace and was a founder member of the Tipperary Peace Convention.
Mick Tuohy Perpetual Cup Goes to USA
There was further American success on the night when Don Gnecco, also from the United States, was announced as the winner of the Mick Tuohy Perpetual Cup. Don received the prestigious cup for his composition “Together We Are One”, another song whose message was particularly appropriate to the spirit and ideals of the competition.
The success of two American songwriters demonstrated once again the international reach of the Tipperary International Song of Peace and the ability of music to cross borders and bring people together through a shared message. The organisers expressed their sincere appreciation to the judging panel for undertaking the difficult task of assessing the six finalists and thanked all of the songwriters and performers who contributed to such a memorable final. Special thanks were also extended to the audience, whose presence filled Templeneiry Old Church and created a tremendous atmosphere for the finalists.
The Tipperary International Song of Peace 2026 was financially supported by IMRO and Tipperary Credit Union Ltd, and the organisers expressed their sincere gratitude to both organisations for their generous support of the event. In particular, the support of IMRO ensured that the winner and each of the finalists received a cheque in acknowledgement of their participation and achievement in reaching the international final. This recognition of every finalist was an important feature of the evening and acknowledged the considerable achievement involved in progressing to the final stages of an international songwriting competition.
The packed church, the quality of the compositions and the international representation among the finalists combined to make the 2026 final a very special occasion for Bansha. Above all, the evening demonstrated the enduring ability of music to communicate a message that transcends nationality and borders—the hope that, through greater understanding, compassion and respect for one another, peace can begin in each of us.
