Looking back at the FCA Pipe Band’s seven decades of success
THE FCA PIPE BAND HAS BEEN THERE FOR THE TOWN’S GREAT MOMENTS, SAYS DAVID LOOBY
THE New Ross Forsán Cosónta Autiúl (FCA) Pipe Band is 70 years in existence this year, with one member proudly playing for 50 years.
It was 1947 when three ex-serving members of the Emergency old 10th Infintry BN Pipe Band, Capt J McDonnell, a pipe sergeant instructor, Tom Bolger (a drummer) and Paddy Burke, a piper formed FCA unit in New Ross, along with Jim Nowlan, Paddy Murphy, Paddy Aspel and Tommy and Jack Ryan.
The group held their first meeting in the YMCA Hall on John Street where they discussed the possibility of forming a pipe band in the FCA unit and the purchase of some band equipment. They managed to source some drums from a disbanded flute band in Tramore. They also sourced second hand pipes and drums from the Irish army.
With the help of Capt Andy Minihan and his little scut lorry, Paddy Murphy and Jim Nowlan set off for the Curragh military camp in Kildare to pick up the instruments which which were reputed to have been played by armed forces in Flanders. These pipes are still in use.
Most of the band members purchased their own instruments at the time, which is a practice carried out by current band members. One of the first big occasions for the band was in 1948, at a parade to celebrate the Declaration of the Republic of Ireland when a few pipers from the FCA Pipe Band took part in the ceremonies.
The band was not fully operational until 18 months after its formation. Its first major band outing was the centenary celebrations of the foundation of the CBS school in New Ross in 1949. Paddy Burke was the first pipe major of the band. He resigned in 1948 due to ill health to be replaced by Jim Nowlan who gave a few years service. Jim was followed by Paddy Murphy who was pipe major for a couple of years, but remained on piping with the band for 47 years. Phil McGrath was next and he also gave a few years service. The longest serving pipe major in the band’s history was Martin Bradley at over 50 years service. Paschal Bolger gave over 40 years standing service to the bandband.
He was followed by present pipe major Dickie O’Neill who has given over 50 years loyal and dedicated service. Several pipe majors gave short service due to early retirement or emigration.
Phil Murphy was the first drum major. Sam McDonald took over the responsibility in 1953, serving for 25 years until 1978.
Pat O’Gorman, Victor Furness and Billy Murphy followed in his well timed footsteps. The present drum major is Terry Brennan who has held the position for many years. The FCA training centre in Maher’s Yard continued to be the centre for band practices until a malicious arson attack gutted the building in 1974 when most of the pipe band equipment was destroyed.
The building was never replaced despite the New Ross Urban District Council and the Department of Defence agreeing a site in the FCA
CentreCentre. Successive governments failed to rereplace the building.
Subsequently the band trained in rented accommodation at various locations around New Ross town, including in the Masonic Hall on Priory Lane, the Delare Hotel on South Street until the FCA was discontinued in 2005. Band Secretary John Bennett said: ‘I’m of the opinion we replaced the old O’Hanrahan Pipe Band which was based in the Irishtown and Maudlins. Some of the oldest family names were involved, many of their family names are still involved in the band to this day. Sadly the O’Hanrahan band was disbanded in the late 1930s or early 1940s.’
The band inherited their O’Hanrahan banner, a beautiful banner which was mounted in a glass case in its centre in Maher’s Yard. The banner was hand embroidered by the women of the Maudlins ICA guild. It was frilled with gold braid with a green background, featured two crossed rifles and was completed with a hand painted portrait of Michael O’Hanrahan. Sadly it was destroyed in the fire of 1974 never to be replaced. Mr Bennett appealed to anyone reading this article who has an old photo taken in the hall with the glass case and banner in the background to contact him as the band could get it replaced with a replica.
Unemployment and emigration took a serious toll on many of the organisations and bands in New Ross in the 1950s and 1960s and 1970s and New Ross FCA Pipe Band was no different. ‘We lost many a great piper and drummer and this is still happening to this day.’
Throughout its 70-year history the pipe band has always been proud of New Ross and of its FCA base. ‘Our green and saffron uniforms have been singled out for admiration at various events in Ireland and abroad, Our pipers and drummers take part in the Easter Sunday commemorations in
WE HAVE MEMBERS WHO HAVE 40 AND 50 YEARS OF SERVICE