news archive

12/4/01
champion supreme

the band won the season championship honors, ranking first amongst all grade three bands in the eastern united states pipe band association - and was promoted to grade two.

9/30/01
classic victory

the monaghan pipe band won the grade three event at the celtic classic in bethlehem, pennsylvania. it was the first time the band won this invational event. this contest closes out the band's 2001 competition schedule.

despite being the darkest day in our nation's history, a glimmer of light burst through the clouds of fear and uncertainty. bass drummer dan hamilton's wife danielle, gave birth to their son phoenix - named after the mythical bird that rose from the ashes. cnogratulations to the new parents.

let every nation know,
whether it wishes us well or ill,
that we shall pay any price,
bear any burden,
meet any hardship,
support any friend,
oppose any foe
to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

- john f. kennedy

we have lost a total of 405 firefighters, police officers and emts who bravely worked on rescue efforts. these finest and bravest of new york city will leave behind many children. the silver shield foundation provides scholarship assistance to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty, whether they be a new york firefighter, a new york police officer, or a state trooper from new york, new jersey or connecticut and other law enforcement agencies in the new york metro area including the port authority police. the number of children covered by this foundation's umbrella will increase several-fold due to this one tragedy. if you would like to make a donation to the silver shield foundation, please send a check or money order to:

silver shield foundation
420 lexington avenue, suite 2320
new york, ny 10170

click here for more information.

the monaghan pipe band won the grade three event at the capital district scottish games at the altamont fair grounds on september 1, making the band the grade three northeastern united states pipe band champions. the games had the largest euspba grade three event of the year, with a total of seven bands. in addition to the overall win, the band also won the "best drum corps" prize.

congratulations to pipe major john wassman and all the pipers and drummers of the monaghan pipe band. special thanks to band alumnus bob costigan who came out of retirement to do his usual splendid job on the bass drum.

this marks the last euspba sanctioned contest the band will play at this season. the band had its strongest year in grade three - from start to finish - becoming "the" band to beat. in seven sanctioned contests, the band took six 1st places and one 2nd place. it was also a season that saw the band challenge up to compete against grade two bands on two occasions, and take a third at roundhill and a second at rockland. in addition to its "northeastern" championship title, the band won the "euspba championship" title earlier this season with its win at the colonial highland games.

the band will continue to compete this month with an appearance at the celtic classic, a prestigious but non-sanctioned event held each year in bethlehem, pa.

it was the fifth first prize the band took in six contests sanctioned by the eastern united states pipe band association. congratulations for a job well done by monaghan piper joe brady, jr. who served as the director of piping events for the first time for the hunter mountain celtic festival. joe also did his usual excellent job as the drum major of the continent's largest massed band which he leads down the mountain at the conclusion of the festivities each year. congratulations as well to monaghan veteran drummer gregory f. mclaughlin who debuted, and did a great job, as the master of ceremonies.

on the following day, the band took second prize at the montreal highland games.

monaghan also challenged up to grade two and took a second place out of four bands in a very close contest. rich janniello won the grade two drumming, and lachlan cameron took a first and a second in the grade three piping events. congratulations to michael price of the 1st highland watch for winning the top prize in our annual raffle.

click logo to visit the bagpipe web directory

at the roundhill highland games in norwalk, connecticut, the monaghan pipe band won the grade three pipe band contest with sweeping results, obtaining first place rankings from all four judges.

the band challenged grade two and won third place in that event. the band was particularly happy with taking seconds in drumming and ensemble in the grade two contest.

earlier this week it was learned that the band won honors at the new york city st. patrick’s day parade. the parade committee recognized monaghan as the “best open class pipe and drum band.”

each year the band proudly marches the county monaghan society up fifth avenue on the feast day of ireland’s patron saint. the band is proud to bring such recognition to the society with this award.

bursting out of the gates for the 2001 competition season, the monaghan pipe band won the grade three event at the monmouth highland games. the band fielded its biggest competition unit ever, with fifteen pipers, five snare drummers, three tenors and a bass. in drumming solos, richie janniello won the grade two msr.

peter (middle) is flanked by his son martin and daughter annette moments before he would step off for his last trip up fifth avenue this past st. patrick's day. click here to visit our tribute to pete, which includes a pictorial you won't want to miss.

3/01/01
old band pic uncovered
much thanks to sisters linda o'brien and annette mohan for all their photo contributions, which comprise the bulk of the old band pics. thanks to a recent contribution, we have added on another band photo from 1979. click the picture below to see it in full in the band photo section.

as pipe sergeant, peter skae serves as john wassman’s right hand man in the pipe corps. he will help teach the pipers, tune the band and act as pipe major in the pipe major’s absence.

the change in pipe sergeants becomes the third and final change among the “field” offices since the last competition season concluded. such offices have to do with the musical leadership of the band, as opposed to the administrative leadership positions such as the band manager, treasurer and quartermaster. the first of these changes was the appointment of john wassman as pipe major. now peter skae completes the team.

the monaghan pipe band web site - this one right here - has been recognized as the bagpipe web directory web site of the week for the week of january 5th, 2001. bob dunsire, of the bagpipe web directory wrote the following review.
"this grade 3 band from ny has been nominated for wsow by a number of loyal viewers. an attractive and interesting web site, here you'll find efficient use of frames, and a unique colour scheme that is both functional and visually appealing. lots of information here (lots of news), and an excellent use of photos. a successful, and long established band, a warm and friendly web site, and nearly every member can be reached by e-mail."

much thanks to our web master valerie duffy and to all who have contributed to this web site, including its loyal viewers. visit the bagpipe web directory by clicking the image below.

11/18/00
monaghan wedding

monaghan drummers richie janniello and marianne marcellino tied the knot on saturday november 18th. click here for some details and some picutures!

rich, jared and tom are all moving up in the world