About Us
Our Story
Saffron Kilts Pipe Band/ Saffron United Pipe Band
In 1962 the pipe band community on Long Island was extremely sparse by today’s standards. When A.O.H. St. Patrick’s Division #2 would hold their annual St. Patrick’s Day Dance they would engage the Gleneagle Pipe Band or Amityville Highlanders to entertain.
Fortunately, a group of men from Division 2 were inspired to create a band of their own. This group was led by Matthew Close and included Kevin Murphy, Ned Daly, John Keating, and Michael Kenny starting on the pipes along with guest member John Young. The Drum Corps was organized by John Egan, Charlie McLaughlin (from Kevin Barry A.O.H. Division #3 Smithtown), and Jim Sullivan on bass drum. The mid-section included Pat Rodemyer and Bob Quinlan on tenor drums. The group held their first practices at the Captree Elementary School in West Islip.
In January of 1964 the band’s ranks were to be opened to female members from the families of men’s members in good standing, and to members of the A.O.H. Division #2 Ladies Auxiliary. This change was put in place primarily for Brigid Close who was daughter of Pipe Major Matt Close and a fine piper in her own right. Years later Brigid would move over to the drums and became the band's Drum Sergeant for many years. Brigid built out a dominating drum corps that lasted for several decades.
It is not an easy task to start a pipe band from scratch, but the dream came to fruition on Memorial Day 1965 when the band debuted dressed in white long sleeve shirts and black slacks at the East Farmingdale Fire Department parade. On January 21, 1965 Ned Daly made a request to the Babylon Hibernians Inc for permission to purchase uniforms. He was advised that the band would need to perform for the general membership so a decision could be made. On March 29th of that year approval was given for the purchase of uniforms.
At the closing comments on this motion Brother Matt Close stated “This is a step we will not regret”
Once the band hit the street there was no looking back. Raymond Ledger, an accomplished piper, joined the band as Music Director and prepared the band and a new crop of students to enter the highly contested band and solo competitions at the Hunter College Feis in 1967.
The ranks of the band quickly expanded, and no expense was spared by John McCarthy, Division 2 President and tenor drummer in 1968-69, along with piper Ned Daly. Both were instrumental in raising funds so the band could be outfitted with uniforms made by Thomas Gordon & Sons from Glasgow Scotland.
The band selected Saffron kilts as that is what is worn by the Irish Army pipers.
Jack Farrelly was the band’s first band manager, treasurer, and managed the refreshments out of the back of his car.
The Color Guard included Division 2 founder Mike Rice, Michael Moloney (the first Color Sergeant), Dennis Maloney and legendary storyteller Frank Smith. Leo Kenny was the band’s first Drum Major.
In 1969 the Barrett’s Pipers and Dancers broke up and about ten of their pipers and drummers joined the Saffron Kilts. This caused quite a stir because the group was mostly teenagers and the Saffron Kilts was predominantly made up of adult men. For a short time the new players were outfitted with Saffron Kilts and Green Blazers with the original band patch until enough funds could be raised to provide proper uniforms.
The band made its first overseas trip in July of 1972 to play at the A.O.H. National Convention that was held in Dublin, Ireland.
During the early 1970s the band continued to grow and were very active ambassadors for the Division as they played at parades and dances far and wide.
In addition, the band led the annual pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine in West Haverstraw, New York.
In the late 1970’s bass drummer Frank Mulligan took on the role of band manager and significantly increased the band's income by raising the rates and booking fees for every parade on Long Island.
The band became very serious about competing and took part in many of the Feisanna and Scottish Highland Games along the east coast of the United States.
The year 1980 was a breakthrough year as the competition band, led by Michael Faughnan, were named the Eastern United States Grade IV Champions Supreme.
During Jimmy Carter’s presidency that year, the band was invited to play at the White House on St. Patrick’s Day evening. It was quite an event as the band requested permission to exit the New York City parade just after 60th street so they could get to LaGuardia Airport to catch the shuttle to Washington,D.C.
The expressions on the faces of the US Secret Service officers were priceless as they looked at the Color Guard’s swords and a skean dubh in just about every member’s hose. The Carter’s were great hosts and they took the time to introduce themselves to each and every member of the band on the back steps of the White under an enormous green shamrock.
Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill and Congressman Tom Downey had a great chat with the band and took us on a short tour of the White House.
The band continued to prosper but tragedy struck on Christmas Eve in 1984 when Pipe Major Matthew Close passed away from a heart attack.
Matt’s funeral cortege was led from St Joseph’s Church in Babylon through the streets of Babylon Village to his final resting place.
Michael Faughnan assumed the role of Pipe Major and kept the band on a steady path for growth and success. Some years the band fielded as many as three different competition units with all taking prizes in their respective grades. Michael brought in the top pipers and Pipe Majors from Canada, Ireland, and Scotland on an annual basis to provide world class instruction.
In 1988 the Saffron Kilts competed in grade 2 at the World Pipe Band Championships held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, Scotland. While they were not in the prize list that day, they did place 5th at a rain soaked contest in Dunfermline.
Upon leaving Scotland, the band headed to Dublin to take part in their millennial celebration which included a visit with then Mayor Briscoe at the Mansion House. They were given a great tour of the Mansion and the great hall that contains the coat of arms for every mayor. The band was also given access to what appeared to be an infinite supply of Guinness.
In 1996 the band competed at the All Ireland Pipe Band Championships held at Kilkenny Castle. The grounds were the absolute perfect setting for the contest and for the massed pipes and drums.
The band continued to do well on all fronts and was a frequent winner of the Father O’Callahan Trophy for the best pipe band in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade. The band has won that title an unprecedented 15 times!
In 2000 the band made the decision to make a major uniform change. As it was very difficult to keep a consistent color look with solid Saffron kilts, the band switched to the National Millenium tartan that was created by Lochcarron of Scotland. The band also gave up the expensive Number One dress of tunics and spats with the exception of the Color Guard who still wear them today..
In 2003 the band returned to Glasgow to compete again at the World Pipe Band Championships. While they did not take home a prize, the experience of competing against the best bands from all over the world was incredibly inspiring.
After well over two decades at the helm, Michael Faughnan decided to not seek reelection as Pipe Major. Michael had a remarkable record for success and made huge sacrifices for the band.
In 2008 the band elected Eric Stein as Pipe Major. Eric had joined the band as a piping student in 1966 when the band practiced on Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoons at Montfort Seminary in Bayshore. Eric implemented an extensive teaching program where some of the top pipers and drummers in the world came to Babylon on a monthly basis to groom the band and teach new students.
Eric engaged with the National Piping Centre in Scotland to hold a weeklong school each February. Classes were held at the Hibernian Hall and thanks to band member Kevin Ferry, also at the St. Joseph’s School in Babylon. At the end of the school week many of the instructors would participate in the well-received “You Be the Judge” contest that was held at the Hall.
A five year plan was developed in 2009 for the band to raise funds so they could go to compete in Scotland for five consecutive years. The band was very fortunate to have great support from Division #2 and a newfound benefactor from Greenport, New York.
Donal Morrissey Jr. was the Pipe Major of the grade 3 unit and Maureen Stein was Pipe Major of the grade 5 band. After three years, the competition band for Scotland was merged into one unit and they qualified for the finals in grade 4B under Pipe Major Eric Stein. In 2014, the last year of the five year plan, the band finished 8th overall out of 60 bands. On the home front the band dominated the Grade 4 contests and were named the Grade 4 Eastern United States Pipe Band Champions.
At the end of the 2017 season Eric Stein chose not to run for Pipe Major and the band elected John Henderson as Pipe Major. John is a very dedicated leader and makes a long commute each week from Brooklyn to direct the band. When John took command the drum corps was in a very weak state and he quickly recruited Andrew Sharp to instruct and play with the band.
Andrew worked diligently with snare drummer Daven Terner and Daven was appointed to be the new Drum Sergeant. The new team got things going quickly and the band were named 2019 Eastern United States Pipe Band Campions for Grade 5.
The 2020 season presented some very difficult challenges worldwide due to the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic and just about every piping event had been canceled. During the pandemic the band was proud to perform outside at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip for all of the front line workers including doctors, nurses, PA’s and support staff dealing with the sickness and death brought on by the pandemic. It was a very well received and appreciated performance.
Pipe Major Henderson kept the band active with weekly practices via “Zoom” and as of late 2021 the band had resumed in person rehearsals.
By September of 2022 PM John Henderson decided not to stand for re-election as Pipe Major. John brought with him his dedication to and a passion for piping serving not only as the Pipe Major but a great bandsman.
At the band meeting in September 2022 the band elected then current Pipe Sergeant Bob Farrell as its 5th Pipe Major. Bob first joined the Saffron Kilts in 1997 and played in the Grade 3,4,and 5 bands over the years with the Matt Close Memorial Pipe Band, Saffron Kilts Pipe Band and Saffron United Pipe Band under Pipe Major’s Mike Faughnan, Eric Stein and John Henderson.
Bob started his piping journey as a student of Pipe Major George M. Bell in Parlin, NJ in the late 1990s.
A life long “Saffronite” and homegrown member, Bob is eager to continue to grow the band in numbers and talent. Donal Morrisey Jr. has agreed to come back and lend his talents to the band serving as musical director and advisor. Currently the band also has very talented snare drummer Shane Stapleton working with the drum corps, while long time Saffron member, and daughter of the original Saffron Kilts PM Matt Close, Betty Close teaching the tenor and bass drummers.
One thing you can be sure of is the Saffron United Pipe Band will continue to grow, prosper, and spread the Irish culture with the support of AOH Division #2 !
We’re very proud to have several Division 2 members in the playing band as well as Color Guard.
Current Color Guard Sergeant Kevin Sullivan has several Division 2 brothers under his charge. They include current Division 2 President Dennis Harty, past presidents Jim Killen, Bill Corrigan and Tom Bennet as well as brothers Kevin Vaughn, Kevin Ferry (who also acts as band quartermaster and Drum Major) and Alan Noli..
Saffron Abu!