Getting the Band Together

In 1985 the Dublin Fire Brigade Sports & Social Club decided that a marching body of men should be entered in the Saint Patrick's day parade in their native city. Committee's were organized notices went out and calls came in. Soon a body of 50 men were revising their marching skills in the training centre.

The day itself proved to be electric as the party marched smartly behind the colour guard with flags and trooped to the tunes from the Fintan Lawlors Pipe Band.

At the same time 40 men led by the DFB Assistant Chief Mr. M. Walsh, marched down fifth Avenue behind the New York city Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe & Drum Band.

The days passed and the atmosphere was still charged with talk of the sounds and feelings from the day. Less than a week had passed before the social club were broached with the idea of starting a band for the DFB. Meetings were arranged and as no one really had any idea of how to start it off the secretary of the association of the Pipe Bands of Ireland was consulted.

Twenty two mad men committed themselves to learning how to play either the pipes or the drums. This of course meant that instruments had to be purchased. After acquiring a loan from the social club it took over three months to get the instruments together from Warnocks in Northern Ireland.

In September 80 men now stood ready to start practicing all with one thing in common, none knew how to play anything. With Michael Russell from the Black Raven Pipe band teaching chanters and music reading and Ciaran Mordaunt from Howth teaching drums the men began in earnest. Few folk ventured out their doors near the training school while the strains went on.

The months went by and eventually though people fell by the wayside a core was formed that could beat out a tune.

1985 to Present

Every recruit class since the formation of the band has been led out by the band onto the parade ground for the beginning of the one in a lifetime pass out day. This memorable event is vastly enhanced by the band with flags flying, drums beating and pipes charging the air with their power.

The band pays in the majority of Saint Patrick's day parades in Dublin but has traveled far afield as well, to represent their colleagues and country. They have taken part in nearly all the major pipe band competitions in Ireland and in the World Championships in Scotland.

They have played at a huge variety of venues and functions and have traveled to many areas especially in America which has close Irish links.

In the last five years over a third of the job has retired and new members are been indoctrinated into the proud traditions that their older colleagues have established.

The Bagpipes in Irish History

In early manuscripts dating back to the tenth century historians mention pipers playing at the funeral of a king. Bagpipes which are usually associated with Scotland and less so Ireland have in fact their origins based in the Persian Empire. At the siege of Bologna in 1544, 10 Irish war pipers led the field.

2000 kerne or foot soldiers assisted the Scottish in the borders wars of 1542 with pipers again playing on the field of battle.

There were several proclamations against issued harpers and pipers that they were most dangerous as they invariably headed all hostile forays into the Pale ( British boundary around Dublin and surrounding regions).

At the battle of yellow ford in 1598 the Irish under O'Neill, O' Donnell and Maguire advanced to the sound of war pipes with great effect inflicting a total defeat on Sir Henry Bagenal and his army of 4,500. Almost a year later they led another victory against the English at the Battle of the Curlew mountains led by the famous Red Hugh O' Donnell.