Tullylagan Pipe Band

TULLYLAGAN. A band of great excellence and history celebrates 75 years of existence this year. Generation after generation has played, supported but most importantly loved this band. Some of them still tell their stories and reminisce over old times, while others have sadly passed on but through it all one thing has remained constant and that is the name and ethos that is Tullylagan.

The story begins in 1923 when a group of men from the Ulster Special Constabulary, based just outside Cookstown, decided to form a band. That day marked the dawn of a new era in the pipe band fraternity for that was the day Tullylagan Pipe Band was born.

Named after the area from which it has become one of the best known and well respected bands in piping circles. After 75 years this ‘old man’ of the piping world has not yet given up the ghost and looks strong enough to go another seventy five years. Like a boomerang it continues to come back, and as it has been said before ‘Bands may come and bands may go but this one will go on forever’.

The humble beginnings of Tullylagan based the foundations for the next generation to follow. The founder members donated a fraction of their wages to pay for instruments and a uniform while committing their free time to learning the finer points of piping and drumming.

On 12th August 1925 Tullylagan Pipe Band was formally introduced to the public when they hit the road for the first time, leading Donaghrisk RBP 31 on parade. They have continued this tradition every year since. The first members to step out that day included J Warnock, T Swaile, A Trainor, J Trainor, H Black, S Taylor, S Millar, J Montgomery, H Montgomery, A Nobles and J Black.

At this time the band were wearing Cameron Tartan but following a request form MacGregor Greer, owner of Tullylagan Manor, they switched to McGregor tartan and they still wear that weave today. The band practised in the ground of Tullylagan Manor and this lead to a few additions to the band. After a hunting safari in Africa Colonel Clifford, Manager of Tullylagan Manor, donated his prize leopard skin to the band for the Bass drummer to wear.

MacGregor Greer then suggested that the Irish Wolfhound should parade at the front of the band with Drum Major Artt. This was an awesome sight which the crowds looked forward to seeing but that was in now way compensation for those members who had to travel the country with the dog in the back.

It was during the 1930’s that Tullylagan Pipe Band entered the competition arena and under the management of Tommy Green went onto win practically every contest they entered, including a total of six Ulster Championships.

When the Second World Ware broke out a number of members joined the armed forces and competitions were forgotten about, but the band made a brilliant come back, providing the celebratory music for VE Day. After this period they got back to what they do best, namely winning competitions.

It was during this period that an interesting partnership was forged with Norman McCutcheon taking the reins but still having the expert guidance of Tommy Green to fall back on. This duo was the driving force behind a competition win that made Tullylagan Pipe Band the pride of piping.

In the summer of 1962 in the ground of Balmoral, Belfast, Tullylagan Pipe Band then in Grade 3, became the first band outside Scotland to lift a World Championship Trophy.

This achievement put the name of Tullylagan down in history and despite all the other magnificent achievements this is the most coveted.

Ballycoan is a name which is connected with great drumming but in the early 1960’s Tullylagan drum corp provided them with some stern opposition by winning two open contests and coming within a quarter point of stealing the Ulster Title.

At this successful stage everyone wanted to be part of Tullylagan so in 1963 due to increasing numbers it was decided to form a Junior Band. This provided the vital stepping stone for many members to filter into the ‘big band’.

The Junior band showed the importance of youth and enthusiasm as they took the contest arena by storm, the most success being the All Ireland Grade 4 win in 1965. This brilliant achievement was followed by another two fabulous seasons ending with the band in Grade 2.

In 1966 the flamboyant, and sometimes elaborate, John Rea arrived as the new drum instructor. This proved successful with the young members eager for a lively new challenge.

This style was incorporated through the band and in the first outing the band took the top spot in Dundalk. The significance was even greater due to the average age of the band and the well established opposition they faced.

The accelerated success of the Juniors made some of the senior members a little wary, and instead of having their younger counterparts catch up with them it was decided to amalgamate the two and hit the competition circuit on a united front.

Tullylagan did just that, Pipe Major Hugh Scott, well supported by Joe Warnock and John Rea, took the band to the verge of something special. They were crowned All Ireland Championships and Champion of Champions in 1968. The drum corps also had a successful season. They not only completed the All Ireland and Ulster double but were out on their own in almost every contest.