USA artists take top prize in Tipperary Song of Peace 2026
Nashville singer Leslie Bowe took the top prize, with Don Gnecco taking the Mick Tuohy Perpetual Cup
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.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Leslie’s 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.
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.
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 th einternational reach of the Tipperary International Song of Peace and the ability of music to cross borders and bring people togethe rthrough 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.
Special thanks were also extended to the audience, whose presence filled TempleneiryOld 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 the irgenerous support of the event.
The packed church, the quality of the compositions and the international representation among the finalists combined to make the2026 final a very special occasion for Bansha.