Pipe band ordered to pipe down

Bleary and District Pipe Band were told to pipe down in 1980 - and they were not pleased.

The softly, softly warning was the first ever in the 20 years the band had been in existence.

A complaint was made by a local resident about noise from the band who practised in a church hall belonging to Knocknamuckley Church.

It was brought to the council and the principal public health inspector recommended that a notice be served which prohibited the playing of pipes and drums outside the hall after 8.30pm and inside the hall after 10pm.

A member of the band explained that in the 20 years it had been formed it had enjoyed considerable success.

“As you will appreciate to gain such success we have to practice twice a week,” he said.

Usually practice was on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 8pm until 10.30pm.

The first half-hour was spent drumming outside and the rest inside.

The notice served by the council cut half-an-hour off that time.