Bagpipe marchers blossom in second year
By Lynne TungettNewport This Week
NEWPORT — Last year, the Newport Ancient Order of Hibernians pipe and drum band marched in the Newport St. Patrick's Day parade with 25 founding members. Their numbers have grown to almost 32 marchers, with 20 founding members still playing. Currently, the band is comprised of 13 drummers, after starting with nine, but they have ambitions of growing much bigger. They have their sights of building up to 50 members and maybe more.
"Up at Crowley's, sitting around the pub, with a couple 'brothers' [fellow Hibernian's], I thought it would be great if we could pull together a couple of pipers and drummers for a band," relayed Michael O'Connor.
"Then it just blossomed. It's a monster — we need all this money, for uniforms, drums; it's incredible," the band founder continued. A colorguard is being added and a new banner will lead the band when marching.
"Michael came over one night with his pipes. I have a drum set downstairs and we just gave it a try," said Bill Cardinal, another band founder and the drum sergeant.
Cardinal also boasts about the band's growth and success, "We're playing in the "Southie" parade [the coveted South Boston St. Patrick's Day parade], it's our ticket to marching the green line on Fifth Avenue.
With eight tunes in their stable, P. McGrath, band manager laments that "Amazing Grace" is one of the most frequent requests of the band, but it is an English tune played by a lot of firefighter pipe bands, not an authentic Irish pipe band like the Newport AOH band. "Danny Boy" is another favorite, but their best he says is a march "Let Erin Remember the Dawning of the Day."
The AOH pipe and drum band look forward to rolling out their new dress uniforms and their first invitation of 2008 to march this Saturday in the Pawtucket St. Patrick's Day parade. Be sure to show them your support and cheer for them when the pass you in the parade in Newport on March 15.
By Lynne Tungett
editorial@newportthisweek.net