The band wears the Anderson Tartan-for no particular reason except we liked the colour.
Why a Scottish tartan when we are an Irish band?
View old photographs of the band
Read an article about the legendary Frank Saunders
The New Ross and District Pipe Band was founded in 1974 and since
its inception has striven to achieve the highest musical standards .
When Pat O'Gorman decided to start a new pipe band in New Ross in 1974,
it was to Frank Saunders
of Dublin he turned to be the drumming instructor. The Pipe Major of
the new band was a 21 year old piper from Bray, Co. Wicklow-
Brian Mac Mahon.
Frank became a regular visitor to New Ross in the 1970's and he was the
biggest influence on the direction the new band would take. He was
a knowledgeable mentor for the young pipe major as well as for
the drum corps.
By 1980, Frank's son, Frank Junior , took over the reins in New Ross
(having learned his trade in the Fintan Lalor corps). Frank Junior was
later to be joined by his brother Ian on Bass drum, his sister Rhona on
side drum, his wife Margaret on pipes, his son Paul on tenor drum
, his daughter Michelle on tenor drum and his niece Shauna on tenor
drum .
Highlights of the band's career to date include:
Winning the All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships in 1987
2nd. prize in the 1986 All-Ireland
3rd. prizes in the All Ireland Championships in 1978 and 1984
4th. prize in the All Ireland Championships in 1998
In 1986 the band became one of the first Republic of Ireland bands
to bring prizes out of Scotland when it finished 5th. in Grade 4 at the
Cowal Highland Gathering in a competition which had an entry of 72
bands .
6th.prize Grade 3A World Pipe Band Championships 1995
4th.prize European Pipe Band Championships 1997.
4th. prize at the Scottish Championships in 2004
5th. prize at the Scottish Championships in 2005
5th. prize at the Scottish Champiionships in 2007
4th. prize at the All Ireland Championships in 2007
The band has represented Ireland abroad on many occasions
apart from its numerous trips to Scottish competitions . In 1986 , the
band represented Ireland at an International Folk Festival in Maena and
La Coruna, Northern Spain
In 1987 the band was brought to Wales by the BBC in order to play at
the Welsh National Eistedfodd in Fishguard ( and appeared on S4C and
BBC television ) .I
In 1988,1998,1999,2006 and 2007 the band represented Ireland at the Festival Interceltique in Brittany , France .
In 2000 , the band represented Ireland at the Vatican Christmas
Concert in Rome as the guests of Italian TV. The band had an audience
with Pope John Paul 11 and also had the opportunity of meeting such
notables as Bryan Adams, Dion Warwick and Randy Crawford.
In 2004, the band performed its first UK Concert in Crawley ,Sussex.
In 2006 the band led the London St. Patrick's Day Parade.
The band plays a very active part in the social and cultural life of New Ross and members of the New Ross band have taught bands in Kilkenny , Carlow , Waterford , and Durrow , Co. Laois .
Former Pipe Major of the band , Brian Mac Mahon , is Dean of Piping with the national College of Piping and Drumming which is sponsored by the Arts Council and which runs courses on piping,drumming and musical theory throughout the country . Brian is the Vice Chairman of the Irish Pipe Band Association and is a recognised piping judge .
Another member of the band , Piper Matt Ryan, is Chairman of the South East Branch of the IPBA
Drummer Theresa Shalloe is an instructor with the National Youth Pipe Band and is a music graduate.
Piper Margaret Saunders is a member of the National Executive Committee of the IPBA. Over the years the band has had a long relationship with the Saunders family of Dublin. Frank Saunders Snr. is a well known figure in the pipe band world and he was lead drummer of the famous Fintan Lalor Pipe Band of the 1950's and 1960's. Frank Snr. was the band's first drumming instructor and was a very important mentor for a young Brian MacMahon during the early years of the band. (Brian was 21 years of age when he took on the task of building a new pipe band in New Ross!). Frank Saundrs Jnr. became lead drummer with the band in the 1980's and was responsible for training almost all of the present drum corps. Ian Saunders played bass and tenor , Rhona (currently with SLOT) played sides , Shauna played tenor, Michelle (currently with SLOT) played tenor.
Nigel O'Neill took over the role of Pipe Major in 2007 while Jim Gordon is the Pipe Sergeant. Both pipers are pupils and long time members of the band.