History
February 12, 1961: During a General Meeting of the Shamrock Club
of Columbus, Jim Foley raised the motion of raising the dues to
$2.00….
…Thus started the Shamrock Club Pipes & Drums. Pat
Canty had a vision for a grand Irish Pipe Band here in Central
Ohio. I am proud to report that Mr. Canty's vision is alive and
well. Like any great organization, the Shamrock Club Pipes & Drums
had a slow start. Over the next 4 years, votes would be carried
and passed, objected and tabled, and discussions would be had
over a Pipe Band. As irony would have it, Mr. Canty never had
the chance to see the fruits of his labor but on the 17th of March
1964 the physical presence of The Shamrock Club Pipes & Drums
took to the streets with a single piper - Francis Patrick McGuire
leading the parade. The following year Mr. McGuire would be joined
by piper Dave Hartigan. In 1966, on the 17th of March, The Drums
and Pipes of the Shamrock Club of Columbus had arrived. Its members
consisting of Patrick McGuire and Dave Hartigan on pipes, Tom
Enright on snare, Bill O'Conner on tenor and Chuck Bell playing
bass.
In its early days, in accordance with Irish tradition, the Pipe
Band was called the Drums and Pipes of the Shamrock Club of Columbus.
Many have forgotten history, but in fact the bagpipe was the national
instrument of Ireland and the Harp the national instrument of
Scotland. Somewhere in the early days of history the two countries
had adopted each other's instruments as their own. Today, we call
the Pipe Band the Shamrock Club Pipes & Drums purely based on
modern tradition.
The Shamrock Club Pipes & Drums have been fortunate enough to
have many great members of the piping community enter and influence
her ranks. The likes of Bob Ryan, Dave Gettinby, and John Rechnagle
have benefitted the band. Drummers the likes of Ed Cotter, Roger
Brown and Tom Enright have certainly helped us keep our beat.
We have a deep gratitude to our Scottish cousins in the Capitol
City Pipes and Drums with whose support and the encouragement
and influence of people like David Daye, Glenn Harriman and the
Father of Piping in Central Ohio Robert Bobby Peters.
Today the Pipe Band consists of 28 musicians from all walks of
life. We practice weekly and perform throughout the year at various
venues. So that today you have The Shamrock Club Pipes & Drums.
(I would like to thank Mr. Dave Hartigan for keeping a history
of this pipe band.)
M. Trenor P/M
