Ceòl Nèamh Pipe Band History

The Ceòl Nèamh pipe band held it's first practice on April 14, 1998. There were eight pipers in attendance at the first practice held under the leadership of Pipe Major Thompson McConnell. Since those early beginnings the band has continuously endeavored to develop both membership and skill through regular practice, workshop attendance, and public exhibitions. 

The band made it's first public appearance on September 30, 1998, when we performed before an enthusiastic crowd at the New Holland Fair Parade. Our first competition season began in 1999. During this first season of competition our band earned a First Place finish at the Anne Arundel Scottish Games. Our hard work and dedication during the second season of competition brought more success and our band finished in a respectable fourth place out of the 90 bands in our grade!

Today our band regularly competes in Grade V competitions held at locations on the East Coast including the Eastern United States Pipe Band Championships at Fair Hill, Maryland, the Northeast U.S. Pipe Band Championships in Schenectady, New York, and the North American Pipe Band Championships at the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville, Ontario, Canada. Additionally our band performs in local and distant parades, concerts and other events. 

Looking to the future, our band has developed both a piping and drumming school which is open to anyone having an interest in learning either piping or highland drumming. Many of the current band members are graduates of these schools and have continued on in the band.