PIPE BAND Piper Mark Toner at the 9/11 Commemorations at the US Ambassador’s residence in Phoenix Park
From Within
THE CIRCLE DFB Pipe Band Secretary John McNally recounts recent events and looks forward to 2022
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nfortunately, the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band is still in a very quiet period due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since our last article, we have, however, resumed practice indoors in line with public health guidelines. This has allowed the band to get back to normal regular practice in preparation for the next year, which we hope will see public events with larger attendances return. In October, District Officer Mick Hayes retired in his 40th year of service. Having been a former member of the band, we were delighted to play at Mick’s last parade in HQ and to thank him for his service and his dedication to the band when he played as a tenor drummer. The band would like to wish Mick and family the very best with a long, happy, and healthy retirement. On September 11, we were delighted and honoured to
Mick Hayes’ retirement
play at the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York that were being commemorated at the Donadea 9/11 Memorial in Donadea Forest Park, Co Kildare. This event remembered FDNY firefighter Sean Tallon, whose father emigrated from the town many years before and who lost his life in the World Trade Center. Sub-Officer Brian Hughes and FF/P Ger Bolger played a moving rendition of Nearer My God to Thee. As always, our solo pipers have been busy over the past few months with engagements including funerals and many last parades of retiring DFB members. Another 9/11 event, held at the American Ambassador’s residence in Phoenix Park, saw Mark Toner represent the Pipe Band as a lone piper, while he also played at the unveiling of a memorial plaque for John Nichol, a 19-year-old firefighter from Northern Ireland who died in the line of duty at a fire in
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