The Formation
of the Band.
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 of Dublin. 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.
Since then 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 plays in the majority
of Saint Patrick's days 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.
 
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