The Firefighters Uilleann Pipe Society.

The Firefighters Uilleann Pipe Society.

Looking at the Calendar frae NPU wherein it staes that Paddy Crowe was a fireman and he gave his set to Dan O’Dowd who worked at Tara St Fire Station in 1956 and I do know that there is at least one other firefighter at present on this board and being a retired one mesel …Lo… I have decided to inaugurate the above society with immediate effect.I will of course be the Life President and 1st Patron of this exciting new project which will promote the pipes whilst Rome London New York Dublin where ever burns(or am I mixing ma history up here :wink: )
Seriously tho if any firefighters are oot there on this board make yersel known and maybe we could start something after all O’Neill did it wi the Polis in Chicago.
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam

Wasn’t Joe Shannon a firefighter in Chicago?

Alas, I’m just the whistle-playing son of a firefighter.

Thanks Ulliam, I totally forgot about Dan O’Dowd!

Other past members include: Joe Shannon- Chicago FD

Capt. Michael Dunn- Milwaukee FD, played a Coyne set inherited from his father. Referred to by O’Neill as “an expert and ingenious mechanic in all that pertains to the fittings of the most modern Irish chanter”

I once lit a ditch on fire that spread and burned down a barn.
I tried to put it out so that makes me a fire fighter albeit a bad one :smiley:

Did Cuz Teehan play pipes?

djm

Guilty. I know there is a female firefighter also from Utah. There would be a bit a travel for the first meeting. I propose that since you are the President for life and retired, we hold the first meeting here in Utah. :smiley: Let me know when you are coming and I will pick you up at the airport.

Excellent idea.The members of course will pay for my flights my board and my lodgings .Thanks.
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam

I thought Cuz Teehan only played concertina (box too?). Was he a firefighter? I’m assuming if he was it would have been Chicagoland as well.

Excellent…two members for the Utah chapter. Still a bit sparse…we’ll need more for the first annual Firefighter’s Tionol.

Teehan worked in the Chicago fire dept at a time when jobs for Irish immigrants were scarce. He built up such a good reputation for himself in the fire dept that anyone who claimed a relationship with him got a job there. Obviously it didn’t take long for a significant percentage of the Chicago fire dept to be filled with Teehan’s “cousins”. :wink: Teehan is immortalized by the tune named after him. That’s the way I heard it.

djm

I am a firefighter from Long Island New York. Not much of a piper yet, just getting started I would be interested in joining up with other Firefighters interested in the pipes.

Thanks djm, I forgot about that story. Although when I heard it first I guess I never even registered the fire dept. part, either that or the person who told it to me left it out!

We’d have to establish a separate organization along fire service lines for box players I’m afraid. Forgive the inside jargon, but pipers are more like truckies and box players, well…engine folk. :smiley:

There’s a fellow on the flute forum whose avatar screams firefighter…have to get him piping.

Uilliam,

I’ll split it with you. You pay the flight and I’ll room and board you (not waterboarding). :stuck_out_tongue:

John

Pipermike and srfmowman, share your affiliations with the group now :slight_smile:

Most of us know Ulliam’s former affiliation. I’m a career firefighter/paramedic in Raymond, Maine USA. I’m also an on-call firefighter (retained, in the UK terminology) in the town that I live in.

meemtp,

Full time firefighter/paramedic in West Valley City, Utah.

Now I get your username. :wink:

John

I was a firefighter with the NC Forest Service. FLew H model Huey helicopters, air tankers, lead plane and DC-3 for 25 years until this Parkie crap took my medical certificate away.

Ain’t much fun anymore

I am a Volunteer firefighte and EMT in Floral Park New York