The New Ross and District Pipe Band wears the Anderson tartan.

A word about wearing tartan when we are an Irish band...........

Although there is evidence that the bagpipe was in Ireland from at least the 10th. century , there is no denying the fact that the Pipe Band is a Scottish invention and that the vast majority of the music played is of Scottish origins .

Being Celts , the Irish have had no difficulty taking the sound of the pipes and in particular the unique and distinct sound of the Pipe Band to their hearts and Irish people have been at the heart of the Pipe Band scene for generations .
The Irish and Scots have far more in common than they ever had in difference .

The Celts in Gaul ( modern day France) at the time of Julius Caesar were described as being fond of 'checkered clothing' - an ancient precursor of tartan?

Many Gaelic speaking clans of Scotland were descended from Irish tribes who migrated there just as many Irish families have descended from Scottish clans . Argyll in Scotland comes derives from the Gaelic 'An Tír Ghael'- the Irish country!

The Reformation and subsequent political events have left their mark over the centuries with the Scots and Irish developing in slightly different directions . Today the Scots and Irish have two separate and unique cultures (albeit with very much the same pedigree) and the island of Ireland is now shared by these two distinct cultures .

Happily , the pipe band scene in Ireland has played a unique role over the past 50 years in bringing both cultures together and it was with great pride that both associations celebrated the 50th All Ireland Pipe Band Championships in 1996 .

Pipe bands are at the heart of the healing process in Ireland after the prolonged and wasteful 'Troubles'. You could say we are 'Musique Sans Frontier' ! Music without the frontiers!