Manhattan College’s Gaelic Society students walking down Fifth Avenue in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade.
By Lauren Raziano, Senior Writer
The New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world, in which Manhattan College’s Pipes and Drums band has been spreading Irish culture and cheer since 1981.
Throughout the school year, Pipes and Drums performs at several parades, including Memorial Day parades in Mineola, White Plains, Throggs Neck, Eastchester, and most notably, many St. Patrick’s Day parades.
With a large assembly of both students and alumni, Jasper pride is evident in the Pipes and Drums ensemble. Alumni members are a large part of what makes Pipes and Drums great, as many other college bands do not allow students to join the band after graduation.
Alumni member Dan Maher has been a piper since 2007. He began learning to play the pipes with the band in his junior year and marched in his first parade in his senior year. Since then, Maher has been an active alumnus, participating in marches and encouraging students to come to Manhattan College.
“As a result of being a part of the band, my connection to Manhattan College has remained much stronger since I graduated than it would have been otherwise,” Maher wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “We are great ambassadors for the college. Our playing all over the New York metropolitan area gives Manhattan exposure to new students who may consider attending.”
One of Maher’s favorite experiences with Pipes and Drums is when he marches along Fifth Ave with the Jaspers.
“Each parade has its own special moments, but nothing beats marching out onto Fifth Avenue and playing as we march past St. Patrick’s Cathedral or as we play for the TV cameras and the reviewing stand. It makes you feel proud,” Maher wrote.
Maher is proud to be a part of an organization that maintains a sense of community, friendship and fun.
“We are a fantastic group who love to have fun while we play and have a good time after the parades,” Maher wrote. “The band fosters friendships. It’s also great to play for people at events and celebrations and it helps some of us earn extra money on the side as we also play at various Manhattan school functions like graduation and new students day.”
Last year, MC Pipes and Drums won first place in the category “High School and College Pipe Bands.” Maher was asked how the group has maintained that status this season.
“First, by maintaining a strong practice schedule. We practice together once a week on Thursday nights,” Maher wrote. “Second, by continuing to foster an educational spirit within the band that encourages and supports younger members’ desires to learn more about playing the pipes, trying new tunes, becoming better players, and the culture of piping. Third, by holding ourselves to a high standard.”
Pipes and Drums can provide interested students with free materials and instruments to motivate new members to join.
“The band is unique in that we accept all who wish to learn to play,” Maher wrote. “No experience is required and we teach all new players completely free of charge. We also provide them with their own learning materials, practice chanter, and even a first set of bagpipes to learn on, all free of charge; this is not done in other bands outside of academic institutions. This practice is huge for keeping the tradition of piping alive at Manhattan and for making piping accessible to all.”
Senior Kevin McGoldrick has been a band member since the beginning of his junior year and now plays the bagpipes.
“When I started at the beginning of my junior year, I sought something from Manhattan that would have a major impact on my life,” McGoldrick wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “Pipes and Drums allowed me to join in one of New York City’s great traditions: the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Together with the school, it is the largest and most visible display of the school’s impact on New York City.”
He continued about Manhattan College’s consistent turnout at the parade every year.
“After watching years of St. Patrick’s parades from the sidelines and seeing how Manhattan was one of the largest contingents on Fifth Ave, I decided that learning how to play the bagpipes would be the coolest thing I could do,” McGoldrick wrote. “We do a great job of reminding people that Jaspers are everywhere.”
Junior civil engineering major Brendan Keane is in his third year as a member of Pipes and Drums as a snare drummer.
“I am a snare drummer, who was lead tip during most of the parades so far including NYC,” Keane wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “The best moment of these past performances would be when we round the corner onto Fifth Avenue and hear the pipes echo off the buildings. Also when the parade is over the day has just begun where you walk around the city playing or taking pictures with people, making their day.”
One of the positions in Pipes and Drums is the “pipe major” who leads the marches.
“Richie Niccolich is our pipe major so he calls out tunes and signals when we stop,” Keane wrote. “Richie gave John Howard [President of Pipes and Drums] one tune to call out during the march on Fifth Ave as well and I was drum sergeant so I was leading the rest of the drummers and watching the signal to stop from Richie. The positions are chosen on experience and are usually the upperclassmen in the band.”
The Pipes and Drums group is very welcoming to new members, especially those willing to learn a new musical instrument. Keane shared his experience learning the drumlines.
“I would encourage students to join the band,” Keane wrote. “I joined my freshman year with no drumming experience and was able to play in all the parades the following March. If you don’t join the band, marching with the Gaelic Society is just as fun.”
Even students who are not part of Pipes and Drums walk along Fifth Avenue with friends and family. Junior Ana McCabe, the treasurer of the Gaelic society, was able to hold up one of the Manhattan College signs during the parade.
“My best memory from Gaelic Society was marching in the St. Patricks Day parade for the first time last year. It was such a new experience for me and was so much fun to do,” McCabe said. “This year I got to hold one of the marching banners. When holding one of the march signs, it is usually the E-Board of the Gaelic Society and any member that is around during the parade when we need more people to hold the signs.”
Manhattan College’s Pipes and Drums reflect the institution’s Irish Heritage and diversity.
“The band is a great reflection of the diversity of the school,” Maher wrote. “We have people of all backgrounds in the band and it’s wonderful to see. The band helps to celebrate Manhattan’s Irish heritage and keep us connected to that community, but it welcomes all and we are very proud of that.”