The University of Notre Dame Bagpipe Band, known as the Pipers of the Fighting Irish, traces its roots to 1949, when the Irish Guard was first formed as a bagpiping unit within the Notre Dame Marching Band. The pipes were dropped from that role in 1954, partly because South Bend’s cold weather played havoc with the reeds and the small group of pipers struggled to cut through the noise of Notre Dame Stadium.

Bagpipes later returned to campus through student interest, eventually becoming an official club and developing into today’s Notre Dame Bagpipe Band. The band now includes students, faculty, and staff from the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, and Holy Cross College.

Today, the band performs at campus events, athletic fixtures, charity events, and major public occasions, including Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. It also competes as a Grade 5 band in the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. A campus tradition with drones, attitude, and weather issues: very Notre Dame, very pipe band.