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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.
Related
Pages
D.F.B. Mainpage | D.F.B.
Control Room | D.F.B. Fire
Operations | D.F.B.
Pipes & Drums
D.F.B. History | D.F.B.
Stations | D.F.B Contacts
| D.F.B Ambulance
|
Organization Structure
