Changes to Irish Guard

[Rack Em]

Changes to Irish Guard emphasize service, musicianship

Leaders of the Notre Dame Marching Band have made several changes to the Irish Guard, in an effort to return music and service as integral elements of membership.

The Irish Guard began as a group of bagpipe players in 1949 as a colorful and musical addition to the marching band. Over time, the musical component fell by the wayside.

Effective with the coming academic year, music and service to the band will return as a part of the criteria for guard membership.

To strengthen and emphasize the historic connection of service and musicianship between the Irish Guard and the band, prospective guard members must have at least one year of previous marching band experience as musicians or band managers.

Other criteria will include citizenship, marching ability, attitude, stature and poise.

While there no longer will be a definitive height requirement for guard members, stature, citizenship, band service, attitude and poise will be evaluated as a part of the selection process.

The selection process will include an individual character interview with band staff and leaders and a marching audition.

The Irish Guard inspection on home football game days will also be eliminated in lieu of a photo opportunity for Irish fans and other ambassadorship opportunities.

According to a Notre Dame statement: Irish Guard members will assume coveted leadership roles within the band organization, similar to drum majors or the band president, exemplifying the highest ideals as student representatives of the University.]

 

[Rack Em]

Tradition for the sake of "tradition" isn't a good thing; it easily goes unexamined. But this just seems to be a power play by the Band dandies. What's the purpose of this? Taking away the role they have is a huge mistake and basically absorbs them into the band. It takes away the identity they've established over many years (albeit a different identity from 1949).

Their intimidating nature and the Irish Guard inspection are what makes them special and unique. They're not normal band nerds.

As a little kid, I loved the Irish Guard. I loved watching them march through campus on game days. Those were memorable experiences that the band is now depriving fans. Way to go...

 

[ResLife Hero]

I'm not a huge fan of it just because I thought they accomplished their purpose and were already unique. That said, I asked one of my best friends who was in the band all 4 years and he said it might have to do with the intoxication incidents that pop up semi-frequently. He said he never minded it because they were funny guys (and he's pretty atypical for the band, btw), but the drum majors and directors would apparently get frustrated by the Irish Guard's pregaming, and there wasn't much they could do without getting the kids in real trouble for something minor (which no one wanted).

 

[Rack Em]

I'm not a huge fan of it just because I thought they accomplished their purpose and were already unique. That said, I asked one of my best friends who was in the band all 4 years and he said it might have to do with the intoxication incidents that pop up semi-frequently. He said he never minded it because they were funny guys (and he's pretty atypical for the band, btw), but the drum majors and directors would apparently get frustrated by the Irish Guard's pregaming, and there wasn't much they could do without getting the kids in real trouble for something minor (which no one wanted).

Sounds like jealousy to me.

 

[NDdomer2]

Tradition for the sake of "tradition" isn't a good thing; it easily goes unexamined. But this just seems to be a power play by the Band dandies. What's the purpose of this? Taking away the role they have is a huge mistake and basically absorbs them into the band. It takes away the identity they've established over many years (albeit a different identity from 1949).

Their intimidating nature and the Irish Guard inspection are what makes them special and unique. They're not normal band nerds.

As a little kid, I loved the Irish Guard. I loved watching them march through campus on game days. Those were memorable experiences that the band is now depriving fans. Way to go...

This. Before I wanted to be on the football field I wanted to be an IG. One of my mom's favorite stories of me when I was a kid is how in awe I was the first time she took me to watch them.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Sounds like jealousy to me.

Haha, I'm sure there was some of that, but the guard played a pretty big role in some of their halftime shows, and someone getting trampled by a stampede of 6'+ kilt-wearing guys with fire extinguishers could go badly in a hurry. Either way, I'm surprised they made a change, and that was the only thing my buddy could think of that would make someone want to incorporate them into the band more. Not necessarily the real reason though.

 

[Free Manera]

If the requirement is musicianship, might as well make the requirement bagpipe skills. Having a squad of bagpipers would be bad ass.

 

[tko]

skin flutes

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

If the requirement is musicianship, might as well make the requirement bagpipe skills. Having a squad of bagpipers would be bad ass.

Rakes of Mallow on the bagpipes is the best

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cRZG46PuJGs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Rack Em]

If the requirement is musicianship, might as well make the requirement bagpipe skills. Having a squad of bagpipers would be bad ass.

ND already has a bag pipe band. Why create a second one that undermines the first? Why not have the Irish Guard and the Bag Pipe Band?

 

[Rack Em]

skin flutes

Yeah if all the guys were from Carroll maybe

 

[tko]

Yeah if all the guys were from Carroll maybe

so good

 

[Rack Em]

so good

Bunch of pros living on the other side of the lake.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

skin flutes

Bunch of pros living on the other side of the lake.

Amateurs compared to the flesh flutists of Zahm.

I'm not a fan of this change either, Rack.

On a tangentially related note, we need to find an undergrad with a Niklas-like physique to accompany the bagpipe band as Finn McCool:

 

[ClausentoTate]

No height requirement... really? That was literally the only requirement before (in conjunction with not laughing hysterically while being inspected, I guess). Why even have the Irish Guard if you change literally every criteria? I don't want a 5'8" kid that just happens to have "Musicianship" or "Citizenship". I don't want some random band kid.

 

[RyCo1983]

I am assuredly in the minority....I just want to watch football.

What real purpose do they serve? Halftime entertainment? Leading the band out on to the field? Clogging after home wins? Sounds superfluous and expendable to me. I can't imagine that this is a funding based decision.

Tradition for traditions sake isn't terribly important to me.

But for those that are upset over this, I'm sorry boys. Hopefully they make sure to only let the usual imposing type, so they at least look the part.

 

[wizards8507]

Amateurs compared to the flesh flutists of Zahm.

No joke, my SMC friends went to a dorm party at Zahm one night and it was a room full of dudes sitting around shirtless with an acoustic guitar singing "Sexual Healing." You can't make this stuff up.

No height requirement... really? That was literally the only requirement before (in conjunction with not laughing hysterically while being inspected, I guess). Why even have the Irish Guard if you change literally every criteria? I don't want a 5'8" kid that just happens to have "Musicianship" or "Citizenship". I don't want some random band kid.

Just because they dropped the formal height requirement doesn't mean they're going to start picking 120-lb piccolo players.

 

[IrishRugger2013]

No joke, my SMC friends went to a dorm party at Zahm one night and it was a room full of dudes sitting around shirtless with an acoustic guitar singing "Sexual Healing." You can't make this stuff up.

Don't see anything wrong with this at all. Then again, I was in Zahm.