Saint Florian, the patron saint of firefighters, was an officer in the Roman army during the third century. The pipes have come to be a distinguishing feature of a fallen hero's funeral Today, the tradition is universal and not just for the Irish or Scottish. All members wear the kilt and tunic, whether it is a Scottish clan tartan or Irish single color kilt. ![]() Many bands wear traditional Scottish dress while others wear the simpler Irish uniform. They are also traditionally known as Emerald Societies after Ireland-the Emerald Isle. The bagpipes add a special air and dignity to this solemn occasion.Īssociated with cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, pipe bands representing both fire and police often have more than 60 uniformed members. It wasn't too long before families and friends of non-Irish firefighters began asking for the bagpipes to be played for fallen heroes. The most famous song played at fire and police funerals is "Amazing Grace". Those who have attended a funeral where bagpipes were played know how haunting and mournful the sound of the pipes can be. It was somehow okay for a hardened firefighter to cry at the sound of bagpipes when his dignity would not let him weep for a fallen comrade. ![]() The Irish firefighters' funerals were typical of all Irish funerals - the pipes were played. It was not an uncommon event to have several firefighters killed at a working fire. The only jobs they could get were the ones no one else wanted - jobs that were dirty, dangerous, or both - firefighters and police officers. Factories and shops had signs reading "NINA" - No Irish Need Apply. In the 1800's, Irish immigrants faced massive discrimination. It wasn't until the Great Potato Famine and massive Irish immigration to the East Coast of the United States that the tradition of the bagpipes really took hold in the fire department. One of these was the bagpipe, often played at Celtic weddings, funerals and ceilis (dances). When the Irish and Scottish immigrated to this country, they brought many of their traditions with them. The tradition of bagpipes played at fire department and police department funerals in the United States goes back over one hundred fifty years. If you have a preference for a particular tartan, please do let me know.HISTORY OF THE BAGPIPES AND THE FIRE SERVICEĮxcerpted from Ohio Fire Chief, July 1997 I do wear Day Dress when playing as a Funeral Piper though, where I feel it’s approriate to be a bit more understated. My bagpiper uniform is the No.1 Full Highland Dress when performing as a Wedding Bagpiper, and at most other events. ![]() I wear three No.1 Dress uniforms – My mother’s tartan, Ancient Mackay, the Mackenzie of Seaforth as worn by the Seaforth Highlanders and Highland Light Infantry regiments, and the Cameron of Loch Erracht originally worn by the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders. This is why bagpipers wearing No.1 dress are highly sought after to play at prestigious events. However, as practical as Day Dress is, it provides nowhere near the visual spectacle as a piper dressed smartly in No.1 Full Highland Dress. Indeed, the No.1 Full Highland Dress was worn by virtually all Scottish pipers and pipe bands until the 1980s when the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band adopted “Day Dress” as their bagpiper uniform due to the No.1 dress being so heavy, impractical, and not to mention very expensive to purchase and maintain. “No.1s” were then adopted first by the Govan Police, and when pipe bands took off in the early 20th century, by numerous other police, colliery and civilian pipe bands. The piper’s “No.1 Full Highland Dress” was originally worn by pipers of the historic Highland regiments.
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