The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
ROLLING THUNDER
Irish Thunder Pipes and Drums celebrate 25th anniversary with concerts, trip to Ireland
UPPER MERION » The Irish Thunder Pipes and Drums will celebrate their 25th Anniversary this year. Organized in 1993, the band is part of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Notre Dame Division from Swedesburg, Upper Merion Township and is also the first AOH Pipes and Drums band in the state of Pennsylvania. AOH Member Jack Rossiter was inspired to organize a pipe band in the AOH. So, in July of 1993, he met with Tom Canty, a retired Philadelphia police officer and experienced piper from the Emerald Society Pipe Band, a group which he organized in 1972 and led until 1977.
In December of 1993, six piper students showed up for the first practice of the band. Seven more would soon to follow, along with a couple drummers. In September 1994 they scored their very first performance at the AOH Irish Festival, but did so without an official name for the group. Piper Chris Dougherty recommended that the band be called “Eireannach Toirneach” which translates to Irish Thunder.
After the performance, several more AOH members wanted to join the band. And by April of 1995 the band had grown to 25 members.
Over the years, band members have come and gone, bringing in family members like the Murrays and Kirkpatricks.
Pipe Majors also changed. Tom Canty ran the band until 1995, An-
thony Fucito took over until 1997, and then Frank Larkin took charge. Larkin, from Long Island, played in several bands in New York, including Saffron Kilts and Nassau County Fire Department Pipe Band, where he was the Pipe Major.
At the end of the 2000 season, Larkin stepped down and Cullen Kirkpatrick took over as Pipe Major, a title he still holds.
Others leading the band are President and Band Manager Sean Murray, Pipe Sergeants Joe Cassidy, Bob Kirkpatrick, and Frank Larkin. Drum Sergeant Andrew Duncan and Pipe Major Pete Hand.
Today the band has 32 active members on its roster of both AOH and ladies from the LAOH Notre Dame Division #2. In 2017 the band produced its first CD, “An Irish History Lesson,” which was made entirely inhouse under Larkin’s direction. This CD not only has the Irish Thunder on it, but also features Paul Moore, Tom McHugh, Nick Morolda, Mary Malone, Matt Brescia and Sara Agnew.
Over the years the band has traveled to New York, Virginia, and many locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And for the third time in ten years the band will be travelling to Ireland.
This year’s trip to The Emerald Isle will hold special significance as the Thunder will participate in the International Rose of Tralee Parades. And to top it off, the band will be leading Katie Keenan, the Philadelphia area’s representative for the Rose, on Saturday, Aug. 18 and Sunday, Aug. 19.
This five-day international event is one of the longest running festivals in Ireland and will be celebrating its fifty-ninth anniversary this year. The festival will be packed with a carnival, concerts, markets, theatrical shows, street entertainment, and three parades — including a grand finale Saturday night which ends with a fantastic fireworks display.
Cassidy, who organized the trip with Larkin’s help, reached out to the Rose of Tralee committee about the possibility of Irish Thunder taking part in the activities at the festival and then joining the Philadelphia representative in the parade, which they were very happy to oblige. Thanks to Cassidy’s leadership, logistical preparations for the ninetyone people making the trip are currently underway and running smoothly.
To set the tone of the joint venture, band members attended and played at the Philadelphia Rose of Tralee selection on June 23 at the Camelot Ballroom in Newtown Square where Katie Keenan edged out several other finalist to be selected as our Rose of Tralee. This will be the sixteenth year that the Philly area will be represented at the event.
Katie is the Co-founder of the Non-Profit Jordy’s Cause, attends Temple University, has a passion for musical theater and enjoys working with the special needs community.
The AOH Notre Dame Division 1 Color Guard led by Tom Nolan will be joining Irish Thunder in these upcoming events in Tralee and are looking forward to leading Katie in the parades. The Thunder and Color Guard are also representing the Philadelphia area and are sure to put on a good performance during their stay.
One of the biggest local performances by the Irish Thunder will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at Valley Forge National Park in front of the Washington Memorial Chapel. The band’s annual concert is part of the Frank P. Law summer concerts at the chapel that begin at 7:30 p.m. The concert is open to the public and is a free will donation. Attendees are invited to bring along chairs and snacks.
To help cap off the celebration of the bands 25th Anniversary, Irish Thunder will be hosting a Pipers Ball on Oct. 20 from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the LuLu Shriners Hall in Plymouth Meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend. Tickets are $40 each and include a buffet, desserts, bottled beer, wine, soda, and entertainment by Irish dancers, The Paul Moore Band and Ray McGoary. For tickets contact any band member or call 610-420-6970.