The Pipes & Drums Of The Emerald Society of the New York City Police Department is comprised of Irish-born or the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons of Irish warriors who came to this country and found a better life. Only active and retired police officers are afforded the privilege.

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We are an NYPD fraternal organization of Irish and Irish-American police who formed as a band in 1960 as a separate, but linked portion of the Emerald Society. We are the original Police Pipe band to organize here in the USA. It was a small Band that marched up Fifth Avenue that first St. Patrick’s day, born and nurtured by a group of men whose undying love and fierce pride in their Celtic Heritage was paramount.

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No one knew that day what that small band of marchers would mean to this city and to this country. Make no mistake about it. The Band has become a permanent fixture in the daily life of the New York City Police Department and New York. But more than that it has inspired Police Departments and Emerald Societies throughout the country to forge ahead and embrace the idea that the skirl of pipes is right, is proper, is comforting for the everyday police officer. Recognition of the Band’s special place in history was evident in May of 1989 at the National Law Enforcement Memorial Day ceremonies in Washington D.C. when the Band led a parade of thirty other law enforcement pipe bands. A special event indeed but even more so when one realizes that all those Bands were a direct result of the hard work and dedication of this Band. They were the “offspring.”

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The Band is proud that it has performed for all New Yorkers, in every borough and every neighborhood but also has traveled the globe. These are privileges we hold dear. We have also played for Popes and Presidents, captains of industry and college presidents. In addition, the Band has appeared on numerous television shows and movies including the “Rosie O’Donnell Show,” the “Today Show,” “Late Night With David Letterman,” “State Of Grace,” “Copland”, “One Night Stand”, “Salt”, “The Departed” and “The Other Guys”.