Arts & Culture

Lane Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums celebrates St. Paddy's Day all 'round Eugene

KLCC | By Tiffany Eckert

Published March 17, 2023 at 6:01 PM PDT

Members of Lane Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums play bass drum and bag pipes. The group, made up of Eugene Springfield fire fighters, has been playing together since 2007.

In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, a group of musical fire fighters known as Lane Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums—are performing at several locations around Eugene. As luck would have it, KLCC caught up with them between gigs.

Pipe Major Wayne Morris stands in his kilt with his bag pipes. — Firefighter Wayne Morris is Pipe Major in Lane Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums.

Donning kilts and tassels the fellows of Lane Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums stand in a wide circle-- tuning up.

Wayne Morris leads the Brigade as Pipe Major. “We’ve been together since 2007,” he said.

“We’re all firefighters, local firefighters. And a lot of our performances are ceremonial for the fire department. We do a lot of firefighter funerals,” Morris explained. “So, this is a great chance for us to get out and have some fun with the community.”

Retired fire fighter Joel Lira wears a kilt and tassels as he plays his bag pipe. — Joel Lira is a retired fire fighter with the Eugene Springfield Fire Department. He's been playing the bag pipes for 15 years.

Joel Lira has played the bag pipes for 15 years. He said carrying around the ten-pound instrument isn’t an issue. But, “your lips start to wear out a little bit and your left arm—from squeezing the bag—starts to get a little bit tired,” Lira said.

Lane Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums performed St. Paddy’s Day shows at the Pint Pot Irish pub, Oakshire Public House and the Crow and Cart. To see a video of the group rehearsing, click on this link.

Bag pipers and drummers practice in a parking lot as the sunshine casts their shadows on the ground. — Late morning sun casts shadows of bag pipes as Lane Fire Brigade members practice in the fire fighter's union hall parking lot in the Whiteaker neighborhood.