Above: An early photo of the De La Salle Scout Pipe Band from the 1930s.
It was decided at a Group Council meeting on December 15th 1933 that the Group would have the first pipe band attached to a Scout Group in Ireland. On May 15th 1934 on Saint De La Salle's Day, the De La Salle Scout Pipe Band made it's very first public appearance when it led De La Salle on a parade to the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Waterford City. The first members of the Band were Wattie Walsh, Ted Ryan, Bobby Barr, Mick King, Tommy Jackman, Paddy Walsh, Paddy Murphy, Dick Hanlon, Billy Walsh and Billy Barr.
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De La Salle Scout Pipe Band Pipe Majors 1934-2007 |
| 1934 to 1964 | Wattie Walsh,
Mick King, Frankie King, Paddy Kavanagh, Paddy Colclough, Stan Coughley |
| 1964 to 1974 | Billy Hearne, Pat Murphy |
| 1974 to 1984 | Pat Murphy,
John Stone, Paul Hennessy |
| 1984 to 1994 | Paul Hennessy,
Brian Sharpe, Pat Murphy |
| 1994 to 2007 | Pat Murphy |
In the 30’s and 40’s the band was in big demand and played at many public functions, parades and processions. In those days the band paraded in full scout uniform. It made its radio debut on Radio Eireann on December 30th 1943 and in 1948 it played in Croke Parke. In the early days of it's existence the band also led the St. Patrick's Day parade in Waterford City but during the war years the custom of the army leading the parade took over and in recent years the De La Salle Scout Pipe band leads the Waterford Scout County in the parade. In 1953 the band members added a saffron kilt to the scout uniform and this tradition has continued to the present day.
Above: The Pipe Band pictured outside the Granville Hotel on the Quay in Waterford during the 1970s.
In the 60’s a group of scouts including a piper travelled to Rome and the tradition of De La Salle pipers leading Scout international gatherings began. Towards the end of this decade, the band was also totally reorganised by Br Finbarr with the help and assistance of Piping Instructor Stephen Power and thus began a new chapter in its history. The band made its television debut in 1969 when it played on a "This is your life" programme for singer and songwriter Val Doonican who had been a member of the band.
Above: The Pipe Band display the new saffron kilts during the 1970s.
Throughout the 70’s the band reached a very high standard under the instruction of Stephen Power and it played all over County Waterford in support of scouting which was growing very fast at the time. Again the band uniform was improved and a jacket was added. In 1977 the band played to an audience of 12,500 people at a National Scout Jamboree held in Mount Mellary. The 80’s and 90’s included another television performance on RTE’s Trom agus Eadrom programme and it also performed on stage at the Dublin Scout Show and the London Gang Show. Pipers continued the tradition of leading international scout contingents and De La Salle Pipes were heard in Korea, Japan, Holland and Chile. The Band also played for the King of Sweden at a function for the World Scout Fellowship.
Above: Leading the Waterford Scout County of Scouting Ireland on St. Patrick's Day 2004.
In the years from 2000 to date the band has grown once more and now has the biggest numbers in its history. In 2002 the band led the parade at the 75th Celebrations of Scouting Ireland CSI in Dublin where the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese took the salute. In 2004 the band celebrated its 70th Anniversary and held a massed pipe band parade on May 15th in John Roberts Square in Waterford city centre to commemorate the first parade of the band in 1934. The band will complete these celebrations in August 2005 with a ten-day trip to Scotland where it will join with 10,000 other pipers and drummers to create the biggest pipe band ever to perform in the world.
Above: Entering John Robert's Square during the band's 70th anniversary celebrations.
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De La Salle Scout Pipe Band Band Members, Past Members and Guests at the 70th Anniversary Parade 15th May 2004 |
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