Nashville Songwriter Leslie Bowe Wins 2026
Tipperary International Song of Peace
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.
