The musical ethos of the Birmingham Irish Pipes and Drums is to bring Irish Bagpipe music to a wide and varied audience. But not restricting ourselves to only music of Irish origin, Scottish music also fills a large slot in the band repertoire.

Formed on the 15th September 1998 in St Mary and John’s School hut club the band has gone from strength to strength from its very humble beginnings.

A meeting was held in the July of 98 to see whether it was feasible to start a Birmingham Irish Pipes and Drums. The idea had evolved from the Birmingham St Patrick’s Day Parade and many people who had known each other for years and said hello or nodded to each other turned up at the meeting. Frank Brennan, (Co. Monaghan), Gerard Weir, (Co. Mayo), Brendan Mulvey, (Co. Leitrim), Maurice Long, (Co. Kerry), Bill Grigg, (Co. Erdington), and Parade committee members Laura Grigg and Anthony Duffy.

Frank Brennan and Gerard Weir had both played pipes in their village bands as boys in Ireland and Brendan had been a side drummer. Maurice just wanted to tap along and Bill said he would help on the admin side.

Posters were put up in as many pubs, churches and newsagents as possible and the first practice took place on the 15th September 1998. All those above were there as well as Marion Doyle who was an experienced piper with the Shirley Pipe Band and had come along to teach beginners. Also a young trainee school teacher from Tyrone, Shane O Neill, who had seen the poster in the White Swan in Digbeth.

Shane said he had played a bit and when he played Marion’s pipes it was like hearing them sing. After a little coaxing Shane admitted he had been the All Ireland U-18 Champion a couple of years before. The bands first Pipe Major had arrived!

Instrument wise we had practice chanters, drumsticks and pads. Marions’ bagpipes and 2 side drums borrowed from the Scout Group in Nuneaton.

That as they say is history the rest is depicted on this site in pictures and prose. We have an immensely exciting and fun time playing for a huge variety of people at a huge amount of venues and functions. From Monaghan to New York, Huddersfield to Mayo. Playing the Jordan F1 cars onto the track at Donnington to celebrate their 10th birthday and the incredibly sad and haunting occasion of playing Pipe Major Frank Brennan to his final resting place.

Enjoy the site and our memories and please sign our guest book. If you wish to know more about the band, whether to book us or join us then please contact bill@birminghamirishpipesanddrums.co.uk