Just curious. Why is there a big emphasis on Irish at the ceremony? i.e. bagpiper My

[mfcorey1]

granddaughter asked and I have no factual answer.

[sufrommich]

1. I think bagpipes are traditional when firefighters or police

are killed. I'm not sure why.Aren't bagpipes a Scottish thing?

[mfcorey1]

2. Thanks. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. There are also Irish bagpipes.

[WinkyDink]

8. There may well be, but bagpipes are associated with Scotland.

[Greybnk48]

14. There are Irish pipes as well. And the Irish and Scots

have always been cordial with each other historically. I have ancestors to prove it, along with some Tootins thrown in the family tree from a Dutch invasion of Northern Ireland! LOL!

[mrmpa]

15. It's about mourning....

The Irish due to their centuries of occupation by the English and unjust treatment, learned to mourn well. They used this time to celebrate the lives of the dead.

[markpkessinger]

3. Persons of Irish Descent ...

...historically speaking, comprised the overwhelming majority of police and firefighters in New York. That has changed in recent years as both departments have become more inclusive, but the bagpipers are part of a tradition that developed when both were pretty much Irish enclaves.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Good point

Frequently conveyed so in many Hollywood movies.

[Smarmie Doofus]

9. You are correct, sir. But NYPD has changed demographically ...

... whereas FDNY is still overwhelmingly white and still has a huge Irish-American element.

Least that's how it looks from here. ( Mostly Irish neighborhood in an outlying boro.)

[bettyellen]

10. the NYPD (maybe FD too) has always had their own band of bagpipers who play for fallen brothers

as well as the major parades here. I don't believe they have a regular band at all.

[WolverineDG]

5. And how else do you play Amazing Grace outdoors? nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Its both Irish and Scot in tradition. Today cops and the military as well

[YellowRubberDuckie]

11. It has become a tradition.

The Irish immigrants gave their children a sense of community and caring for each other. Most of them became firemen and police. While there are other heritages involved, the police and fire memorials have taken on these beautiful traditions shaped by them. If you live in the NE and you're a fireman or a cop, your father, your uncles and cousins are or were probably fire and police. Putting your life on the line for others with no thought of your own is a commendable tradition.
With all the talk of cutting funding to these people who put their lives on the line everyday with no thought of their own is despicable!

[XanaDUer]

12. Tradition

Back in NYC's wild-n-wolly days, the Irish ran the fire stations. Every fireman is Irish, by tradition.

[Maeve]

13. It has been estimated that as many as 1/6 of those who died on 9/11 were of Irish descent

And yes, bagpipes are both Scots and Irish (Danny Boy 'the pipes, the pipes are calling')
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/A-tribute-to-those-Irish-Americans-we-lost-on-911-102612189.html

[applegrove]

16. NYCity firefighters were traditionally Irish. They had somebody playing a flute

at one of the sites outside of NYCity.