An Cosantóir October 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie
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by COY SGT KEVIN DUNCAN, SENIOR PIPE BAND
INSTRUCTOR, DF SCHOOL OF MUSIC
I
n this busy 1916 centenary year, Defence Forces pipe bands
have played an integral part in our ceremonial commitments,
providing traditional Irish music, colour, pomp and swagger
to our parades and remembrance ceremonies. this has fostered
an increased interest in our pipe bands.
The Easter Sunday parade was without doubt an outstanding
display of our troops and equipment, and the public turned out in
there tens of thousands on a magnificent sunny day in Dublin.
A composite Defence Forces pipe band was tasked with leading
troops from Dublin Castle to the GPO, branching off onto the
central median of O'Connell Street to perform
in front of the President,
An Taoiseach, and the Chief of Staff, as the parade passed by the
reviewing stands. The parade concluded with the pipe band join-
ing the massed bands of the Defence Forces School of Music for a
final march past the review stand.
It was a very proud moment for members of the pipe band,
who displayed exceptional musicianship and drill on an historic
and memorable day. Since Easter Sunday, our pipers and drum-
mers have been performing all around the country at wreath-
laying and commemoration ceremonies.
In 1926 a school of piping was set up in the Curragh, and by
1929 five pipe bands were established
in 7 Inf Bn, Portobello Bks (now Cathal
Brugha Bks), Dublin; 5 Inf Bn, Collins Bks,
Dublin; the Curragh Training Camp; 12 Inf
Bn, Sarsfield Bks, Limerick; and 2 Inf Bn,
Custume Bks, Athlone.
At that time, pipe band personnel
performed their musical role in addition
to their routine military duties. They
took part in barrack parades and civilian
engagements, but it wasn't until 1945,
when the pipes and drums featured in
a military tattoo at the RDS, that the
pipe band was established within Irish
military music.
P i p i n g
