Beat goes on for Fairfield County Irish band
NORWALK — Schools are closed, city halls scaled back services and big gatherings are canceled. But the show must go on for the Fairfield County Police Pipes and Drums.
The musical group, comprised of current and former police officers throughout Fairfield County, said it will continue to play smaller gigs throughout the area as the St. Patrick’s Day parades they usually participate in have been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“It’s really the parades that hit us the hardest,” said Stamford Police Sgt. Christian DiCarlo, who is the president and pipe sergeant of the FCPPD. “You practice all year long. This is the big time of year. You like to march in front of a bunch of people and have a good time.”
The FCPPD was scheduled to play at St. Patrick’s Day parades in Norwalk, New Haven, Bridgeport, Greenwich and Mount Kisco, N.Y. These parades have been canceled, as have some of the band’s bigger bar gigs that are usually held after the parades.
These cancellations are a first for the band, which formed in 2014. The not-forprofit
“It’s really the parades that hit us the hardest. You practice all year long. This is the big time of year. You like to march in front of a bunch of people and have a good time.”
Stamford Police Sgt. Christian DiCarlo, president and pipe sergeant of the FCPPD.
group brings in most of its revenue — used for uniforms and equipment — in March. The coronavirus outbreak and canceled performances will have a small financial impact on the group, one that will be offset, DiCarlo said, by taking smaller gigs at bars and pubs.
“It’s definitely a big letdown, not only for us, but all the parade committees and bar owners who rely on this stuff for revenue,” DiCarlo said. “This will impact us financially, but nowhere near some of the restaurants and pubs that rely on this.”
Now during what’s normally its busiest time of year, the group is only playing a few gigs at smaller restaurants and bars as larger celebrations have faded due to fear of the virus spreading and Gov. Ned Lamont banning gatherings of more than 250 people.
The group has managed to schedule three gigs this weekend and four more on St. Patrick’s Day and Tuesday. The band will perform at Riley’s by the Seawall in Stratford at 4 p.m. Sunday and will do a pub crawl on St. Patrick’s Day starting at O’Neill’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in Norwalk, then to the Ole Dog Tavern in Stratford and Fairfield before ending at the Hub and Spoke in Black Rock.
The band did also get a chance to play in Stamford’s St. Patrick’s Day parade last weekend.
“This is our Christmas season,” said Stamford Police Sgt. Ryan McAllister, who is a pipe major in the band. “It’s a ton of fun. People love it. We came to the conclusion if people still want us, we’re going to do it.”