The NYPD Pipes and Drums is an American pipe band made up of active and retired police officers of the New York City Police Department (NYPD). It is associated with the Irish American Emerald Society and was formerly known as the Emerald Society's Pipe and Drum Band.[1]
Formed in 1960, the NYPD Pipes and Drums was one of the first police pipe bands to form in the United States. Sergeant Finbar Devine was drum major from 1960 to 1995.[2] It is an annual participant in the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City and the Inaugural parade in Washington.[3] It has historically played for popes and presidents, and city officials. In 2017, it performed at the United States presidential inauguration parade for President Donald Trump.[4] In addition, the band has appeared on numerous television shows and movies including The Rosie O'Donnell Show, the Today Show and Late Night With David Letterman. The band also maintains a color guard. The bandmaster of the pipes and drums is Detective Kevin McDonough.[5][6][7][8]
The NYPD is regarded as one of the foremost American police department pipe and drum bands, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette described the 95-member band in 2005 as the band that, "sets the standard nationwide."[9]
In April 2002, the band hosted what the London Daily Telegraph described as "One of the largest invasions of pipers and drummers that the world has seen," as a 9/11 memorial. Pipe and drum bands from 26 countries numbering thousands of musicians marched down New York's Sixth Avenue.[10]
In 1986, the NYPD Pipes and Drums decided not to participate in a commemoration of the 1981 Irish hunger strike by supporters of the Irish Republican Army held in Bundoran, just across the border from Northern Ireland, on August 31, 1986. Some band members attended privately.[1][11]
In popular culture edit
The NYPD Pipes and Drums appeared in the video made for the song "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues as the lyrics refer to the non-existent "boys of the NYPD choir".
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Police Band Drops I.R.A. Parade Plan". The New York Times. AP. May 3, 1985. p. B4. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Sulllivan, Ronald (October 3, 1997). "Finbar Devine, 65; Led Bagpipes In 35 Years' Worth of Parades". The New York Times. p. A22. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Joseph, Cameron. "NYPD pipes and drums group, Marist College marching band to play for Trump's inauguration - NY Daily News". nydailynews.com. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
- ^ "President Trump salutes NYPD band - CNN Video".
- ^ "Roster - Pipes & Drums of the Emerald Society". nypdpipesanddrums.com.
- ^ "Welcome - Pipes & Drums of the Emerald Society". nypdpipesanddrums.com.
- ^ "NYPD Emerald Society". www.nypdemeralds.com.
- ^ "A more diverse NYPD reflects on its Irish-American heritage". Retrieved November 28, 2018.
- ^ Gigler, Dan (March 20, 2005). "Police Form Band for Proper Tributes". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ProQuest 390866179.
- ^ Peterkin, Tom (April 8, 2002). "Pipes and drums turn New York tartan". The Daily Telegraph. ProQuest 317591686.
- ^ "New York Police Band Members March with IRA Supporters". Associated Press.
External links edit
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