Whistlin' Donkeys need 'one more miracle' ahead of US St Patrick's gigs

A stolen passport, an Irish folk band and the need for "one more miracle" ahead of St Patrick's Day.

Not the plot of a corny comedy film, but reality for The Whistlin' Donkeys.

The band had been touring in Chicago earlier this week, when their vehicle was broken into.

Among the items stolen were equipment and luggage, but the biggest problem was the theft of band member Tomás Quinn's passport.

With the help of Irish authorities in the US, Quinn was able to get home and has been issued a brand new passport.

However, the race is now on to get a new visa ahead planned St Patrick's Day gigs in New York.

Lead singer Fergal McAloon said it was "pure panic stations" when the group arrived to find the smashed up vehicle.

"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 said their first move was to figure out what was actually 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. We realised the only passport that was missing was Tomás'."

After contacting the Irish embassy in the US, a temporary passport was sorted for Quinn.

Following their return to Northern Ireland, Quinn was granted a full new passport on Tuesday by the Irish passport office.

He has an emergency appointment with the US embassy in Ireland on Wednesday and the band is hoping for a "miracle" that his visa to enter America will be re-issued.

Among the items taken was "valuable camera equipment" belonging to the band's drummer Oscar Bradley.

The band will be playing for three days in New York as part of 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.

McAloon said they intend to keep their passports close to avoid "making that mistake again".

The Whistlin' Donkeys are a Irish folk and Celtic rock band from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.

The band is made up of six members including Fergal McAloon (lead singer), Tomás Quinn (banjo), Stephen Corrigan (guitar), Danny McCormick (bass), Michael Kerr playing (fiddle) and Oscar Bradley (drums).

The band has entertained crowds in the USA, Canada, Europe and Ireland with their own songs and hits such as Bee's Wing, Travelin' Soldier and Dirty Old Town.