© cullen pipe band 2013
Cullen Pipe Band (known as Cullen Piper's Band in
the old days) was founded in 1941. It could well be
said that it first saw the light of day at the home of
Paddy Fitzgerald, Mologhroe. At that time Micheal
Rea was the local postman for the district, he was
both an Uileann and Bagpiper, and it was noticed
he had a practice chanter in his bag which was
seen by someone present. Micheal, who was also
an uileann piper shared his talents with a local
group of young men, and at the end of a few
seasons had them playing a few tunes on the
practice chanter. Then came the purchase of the
pipes-incidentally costing 6.13s.6d. At this stage of
development the drummers were being coached by
a Mr. Baker who worked with C.I.E.
The many nights spent learning and the availability
of Dineen's Hall in those early days was of vital
assistance to get the band established.
Most of the equipment was obtained at Crowley's of
Cork, and some drums came from the old Fife and
Drum Band, the Bass drum being obtained in
controversial circumstances.
The first Pipe Major of Cullen Pipe Band was Mr.
Stephen Casey.Uniforms were not acquired for a
few years, most of those were got in Cork City, a
few in Newmarket, and the remainder made by
Paddy Fitzgerald. The uniforms made their first
appearance on Laitiaran Day in about 1943, and
were blessed after mass by Fr. Griffin. These first
uniforms consisted of an army type tunic and a
green tartan kilt. Knocknagree Races, a significant day
of local revelry in the 1940's as was Feis Laitiaran in Cullen,
provided two local platforms for performance. The
Cullen Piper's Band replaced the Cork City Pipe
Band which had been an annual attraction in
Knocknagree. Carnivals, parades, celebrations,
political occasions, etc.,were all demanding the
services of the band.
Sometimes indeed, the demand was very time consuming,
as for example in 1951, when Eamonn De Valera was
running an election capaign in Kerry, the band led the
parade first into Killarney, then to Killorglin and finally at
nightfall on the same day into Cahirciveen.
Travelling from one venue to another was done in
the early days in the back of a lorry, generously
provided by Micheal D. Murphy. Later on in the
Fifties a bus was used. Indeed, many locals
travelled on the bus also, and whilst it provided an
excellent day's outing for these people, it also
helped to defray expenses for the band. Many
stories are told of different incidents and
experiences about the band - such as a brave
attempt, urged by political conviction, to relieve the
flagbearer of the tricolour as happened in
Cahirciveen, or the less serious events such as
happened in Killarney, when a certain drummer,
pressed for time, folded the trouser-legs above the
hem level of the kilt, and after some ten minutes of
marching, the concealed articles insisted on
revealing themselves, very much to the
embarrassment of the wearer but naturally to the
amusement of the onlookers.
For many reasons, the band went through a somewhat
inactive period between the mid sixties and the early
seventies;in fact the band did not play at all for about eight
years. However, this spell of inactivity was not allowed to
continue for too long. Teddy Goulding and the late
Johnny Fleming decided to reconstruct the band again.
A number of former members were contacted; a meeting
was called,and on St. Stephen’s Day 1971 the first
moves to re-establishing the Cullen Pipe Band were
initiated.
Then on St. Laitiaran’s Day 1972, which incidentally,
coincided with a Mid-Cork by-election and the presence
of the former Taoseach Jack Lynch in Cullen.
The newly reformed,though dishevelled, Cullen Pipe Band
struck up it’s first tune after a lapse of eight or nine years.
Other changes included a completely new set of
uniforms, a new set of drums, several new sets
of pipes and the tricolour had been replaced by a
staff. The first piping contest entered was in
Limerick in 1982 where the band came in first place.
Many new young members joined the ranks as pipers
and drummers during the 1980's, and the plain green
kilt adopted. Classes were established and outside
tutors were brought in to provide the lessons.
In 1991 the band celebrated its 50th anniversary and
honoured the founder members. 1995 the band won
champion of champions grade 4. In 1998 the band won
the All Ireland pipe band championships grade 4.
In 2001 in band celebrated its 60th anniversary.
A new set of Uniforms were purchased and the band
also took part in the St.Patrick´s Parade in New York.
The next major honor for the band was winning the
World pipe band contest in Grade 3B in 2007.
Grade 2 is the 2nd heighest grade in the pipe band
competing world. Cullen won the All Ireland pipe band
championships in grade 2 in 2012 which was held in Ballina
co Mayo. Also that year the band won 4th place at the Scottish
championships in Annan Scotland. During the band´s time in
Grades 3 and 2, many players from the Munster region and
beyond came in to play with the band and made a huge
contribution to the standard of the band.
In 2014 some decided to call it a day and since then the band
has been concentrating in its local young members.competing
in grade 5 since 2014, the band has been steadily been
improving,and won the East of Ireland championships in
Howth in 2016. The Band celebrated its 75th anniversary
in 2016 and also played at many commerations to mark the
100th anniversary of 1916.
© cullen pipe band 2019