Kieran comes back to town with a Pipe band

FORMER Ballymoney man, Kieran Kelly, who emigrated to Edmonton, Canada, some years ago, returned home recently - and brought with him a Pipe band!

The Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums Keiran played at various venues through County Antrim one of which was at Bushmills Primary School.

Keiran was born at the Route Hospital and grew up on the Rowan Road. He lived in the town until he was a month shy of his 19th birthday. His brother and two sisters still live in the town.

Kierans' mother, Dolly Kelly, was the theatre sister in the Route Hospital for 30 years.

Kieran emigrated to Edmonton Alberta, Canada, in October 1974 and has lived there since. His stay will reach 35 years this week.

Since he has been in Canada, Kieran has started a construction business, which has been up and running for 25 years. It has been a great success. Keiran called his business, "Antrim Construction". He returns home at least 2 or 3 times a year.

Keiran and the band master, Mike Bradshaw, left Northern Ireland during the Troubles and everything that they have done since has simply made the Troubles a thing of the past.

The pair would also like to boost tourism. Mike Bradshaw was from Strangford and was a police officer in Northern Ireland He also emigrated to Edmonton Canada, where he joined the Edmonton police force and became the deputy chief of police for Edmonton. Planning for the trip started in 2007 when Mike was looking at the history of the Edmonton Police force and found information that in 1952 the Canadian Government was in Northern Ireland and hired acting police officers from across Northern Ireland to emigrate to Edmonton.

These officers were a big part of setting up the police service in Edmonton in 1952, back then Edmonton was a very small city.

None of the band members had ever been to Northern Ireland before and they really enjoyed the trip. Several members are retired from the force but are still involved with the band.

The age of the members are average from 25yrs up to sixty. The band plays charity events for schools old folks homes etc and have travelled to Montana and several states they also have been in France Belguim etc and have played at D Day events in Europe. Keiran connection with the band is fund raising as he claims to have, "No musical Talent!".

Kieran, Mike and the band have now returned to Canada.