Manhattan University’s Pipes and Drums marches in the NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on 5th Ave.
JOHN HOWARD / COURTESY
Brooke Della Rocco, News Editor
Manhattan University’s Pipes and Drums announced their parade schedule for the month of March, in honor of Irish Heritage Month.
Every year, Pipes and Drums members look forward to March due to their busy schedule, which consists of nine parades this year. Dan Maher, 2009 Manhattan University alumnus and piper in the band, discussed the importance of Pipes and Drums representation at these events.
“We play so many parades during the month of March,” Maher said. “It’s pretty much every Saturday and Sunday from the beginning of March all the way to the end. So when you’re a part of the band, especially if you’re someone like me who’s got a really strong family connection and Irish heritage, it’s the greatest thing…You’re going to all these different celebrations and seeing how Irish heritage is celebrated in different parts of the Tri-state area.”
According to the band members, there tends to be more contribution to Irish heritage in New England than other locations around the country. This ultimately makes the experience a more enriching one.
“It’s really something we benefit from in this particular area, because I’ve lived in other parts of the country too,” Maher said. “You know, you don’t realize how spoiled you are when you’re here because when you go elsewhere, that strong Irish heritage doesn’t exist. It’s kind of mesmerizing and awe-inspiring for people because they just don’t have that same connection to it that we do here.”
Pipes and Drums is a unique group on campus due to its major alumni involvement. Not only are members encouraged to stay in the group after graduation, but most do.
John Howard, an MBA student on the accounting track, shared the benefits of being a part of Pipes and Drums.
“I think what’s really nice about the band as a whole, is the fact that we do have alumni coming, and we meet tons of alumni,” Howard said. “It’s great to have a stepping stone for meeting older Jaspers who have careers. I believe there are some people that have gotten internship positions or career positions through knowing someone from the band.”
While some students initially get involved with Pipes and Drums their freshman year of college, Howard was introduced to playing Irish music at a young age. Originally playing the accordion, he had a strong interest in attending a college or university that had a pipe band. After completing his freshman year in the band, he stuck with it, now looking forward to the month of March every year.
Senior civil engineering major Brendan Keane, is drum sergeant for this academic year. Leading the communication of the songs being played during the parades, Keane discussed his love for the group.
“I would say it’s great to keep the tradition going of music,” Keane said. “I loved going to these parades before [and] just listening to it. You can hear it a mile away. I always love going, and I’m happy to continue the tradition.”
Pipes and Drums members encourage different students among the campus community to join the band and take part in representing Irish heritage and culture. The band is able to instruct students on how to play the bagpipe or drums and tries to provide all equipment for free, including the uniform and instruments.
Maher went on to express the importance of the group and the aid it provided in keeping him connected to Manhattan University.
“I think for me, being a part of the Pipes and Drums really kept a connection to Manhattan that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” Maher said. “[I’m] still going back to the school for practices, still going to the events with the band and still talking to the other students.”
Pipes and Drums looks forward to the month of March, and hopes to serve and represent the school’s Irish heritage well.