A marching pipe band is an ensemble of people playing bagpipes and drummers which requires coordination, discipline and timing. Every step should align with the band’s formation and rhythm and they should be visually and musically synchronised. They are usually led by a drum major with a mace to signal movements such as starting, stopping, wheeling etc. So we thought today to show you some of those bands who have graced our streets and entertained us over the years.
Our first image today shows Cumann Píobairí na Gaillimhe, possibly the first ever marching pipe band in Galway. They were formed by George Nicholls who also bought all the instruments. They were all nationalists and performed at O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral as the only band there with a name in Irish. Many of them featured prominently and were active during the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence. Our image, which was taken in 1912, shows, back row: Martin Ridge, Dublin; Paddy Geraghty; John Hosty; George Geraghty; Tommy Flanagan and Jim McDonagh. Second row: Seamus Carter; George Nicholls; Michael Griffin; Michael Kavanagh; Nicholas Geraghty and Tom Hynes. Seated are John Tierney and Peter Roland, and the man in front is Tommy Beatty.
Guth na n-Óg was formed by some old boys of Coláiste Iognáid under Fr Fitzgibbon SJ in the late 1940s. The aim was to further Irish ideals among the youth of Galway and they did this by organising very successful hurling and football competitions. In 1954, the Guth na n-Óg Pipe Band was formed with the assistance of personnel from the 50th Battalion, Renmore. Colie McDonagh and Colm Carew trained tenor and bass drummers, Ginger Folan and Frank Casserley trained the pipers. They used to cycle out to Moycullen and practise along the old railway line.
They had many engagements and regularly played at league matches. In 1956, the band went by train to Croke Park for the All-Ireland football final and when Galway won, they marched up and down O’Connell Street playing “The Men of the West”. The early sixties saw big changes in Galway and Guth na n-Óg disbanded.
Our photograph of the band was taken in 1954 in Fr Burke Park and shows, from the left, back row: Brendan Geoghegan, Eamonn Quinn, Paul Quinn, Pádraic Keaney, Dermot Carter (pipe major ), Seán Ashe, Seán Cullinane, John Flannery. Middle row: Joe McNamara, Seamus Donnelly and Val Carty. In front are Eamonn Ashe and Bernard Jackson. Michael (Skipper ) Donoghue and Brendan Watson were missing when the picture was taken. You can see the Fire Station under construction in the background.
Our third photograph is of The City of Galway Pipe Band and it was taken in Fr Burke Park behind the Legion Hall where the band were based. The members are, back row, left to right: Dermot Carter, Shantalla; Seán Conroy, Shantalla; Paddy Connolly; Johnny Spelman; Seán Staunton; Mattie Connolly; Eddie Walshe; Seán Noone from ‘The West’. In front are Michael Tomkins; Albert O’Connor from Knocknacarra; Colie Walsh; Johnny Joyce; Seán O’Grady; and Christy Donnelly from ‘The West’.
