Rockland AOH Pipe Band Works Deep into its Busy Season

Pipe Major John McGowan knows some people think all the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipe Band does is play St. Patrick's Day Parades.

This time of year, it is an easy mistake to make. The band marched in three parades two weeks ago. They marched in White Plains, Mt. Kisco and Sleepy Hollow this past weekend. Thursday, they will take part in the New York City parade.

All of it leads up to their moment to shine -- Sunday they will be out front among the lead battallion of the Pearl River St. Patrick's Day Parade.

"Pearl River is our big thing," McGowan said. "We’re the AOH County band and we are walking in front of the AOH, leading the parade. It’s an opportunity to thank the organization and to show support for our organization."

McGowan admitted that this parade has a special meaning for him.

"To be out front in the green and gold uniforms, walking through Pearl River ... I’m from Pearl River. I grew up here," McGowan said. "That’s what inspired me to play the bagpipes -- growing up in Pearl River and going to the parade."

McGowan played the guitar and the saxaphone for years before taking up the bagpipes about seven years ago. Now he also teaches the instrument.

"I was at the parade and thought I wanted to be part of it a little more," McGowan aid. "I heard about the AOH band and started taking lessons. The rest is history."

The Rockland AOH Pipe band draws members not only from Rockland County, but from Westchester and New Jersey. They practice once a week year round, playing all types of events, though March is when they have the most work.

The band is made of pipe players and drummers. The bagpipes present their own set of challenges.

"It’s a tough instrument," McGowan said. "It’s a lot of maintenance. It's pretty much held together with hemp. It's just string and you have a wooden reed. it's very sensitive to moisture and temperature changes."

McGowan expexts to have 15-to-20 pipe players and 10-to-12 drummers for Sunday. They spent much of their practice last week, the last one before Sunday, preparing for their role in leading the parade.

"When you lead a parade, you walk the grand marshal down," McGowan aid. "We march up to the grandstand where the grand marshal and the parade commander are. We split ranks. Our drum major goes and greets the grand marshal and walks him up and lets him take his spot on the stage where he will watch the parade.

"We are very thankful and very proud to be a part of this organzation. It means a lot for us to lead the organization, to lead the parade. To lead the grand marshal down is a great honor for any band who does it. We take it to heart, spend a lot of time practicing just that part. It’s an important thing we do and we are very proud to do it."