Today we’d like to introduce you to Dennis O’Brien.
Hi Dennis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We started the band during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020, the An Gorta Mor Memorial Pipes and Drums band embarked on a mission rooted in remembrance and community service. “An Gorta Mor,” meaning ‘the great hunger’ in Gaelic, serves as a solemn reminder of the band’s core purpose: to commemorate the one million Irish who perished and the over two million forced to emigrate during the great Irish famine. In honor of these victims, the band proudly wears the Irish Diaspora tartan kilt.
From its inception, the band established itself as a dedicated non-profit organization. Operating out of the American Legion Hall in downtown Wake Forest, NC, it functions as the service band for the Wake County, NC Division 1 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). Echoing the AOH’s commitment to Christian charity, the band focuses its efforts specifically on combating hunger within the local community. Founding member Dennis O’Brien emphasized this, stating, “We honor those victims of the Great Irish Famine by actively engaging in hunger relief in our local community”. This mission is actively pursued through volunteer work, band food drives, and donating portions of performance proceeds.
Over the past five years since its founding, the An Gorta Mor Memorial Pipes and Drums has fostered growth by welcoming the community to share in the Celtic arts. Under the guidance of Pipe Major Dennis O’Brien, the band offers free weekly lessons in playing the bagpipes and drums every Wednesday evening. No prior musical experience is required, opening the door for anyone interested to learn and participate. Students begin with lessons and are welcome to stay for the full band rehearsal that follows.
The band strives to create the same welcoming environment that founder Dennis O’Brien experienced throughout his years playing the bagpipes, aiming to build a space where people can make great music and memories together. They continue to grow the Celtic arts in the region, driven by their dual mission of remembrance and service.
For more information:
Visit their website: http://ncirishpipeband.com/
Contact Dennis O’Brien: [email protected] or 919-358-2984
Find them on Facebook: An Gorta Mor Memorial Pipe Band
Attend free lessons/rehearsals: Wednesdays, 6:30 PM at American Legion Hall, 225 E. Holding Avenue, Wake Forest.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In the beginning, it was tough to find a place and safe way to gather and learn. We started with lessons in my garage on folding chairs and tables. As the band grew, we were fortunate to find a sponsor in the American Legion who have kindly made their meeting hall available to us free of charge. In return, we are proud to play a small role in their monthly flag raising providing a piper to perform as part of the ceremony.
It’s always a challenge to recruit and find new members. We started with a core group from the local division of the AOH (Ancient Order of Hibernians, full disclosure I am an AOH Brother), friends and family. With a core group of players in place, performances in the community drove further interest.
Lastly, its not an inexpensive project. Our initial fundraisers, help to kick off our mission as well fund drums for the drum corps. We received tremendous help for another local pipe band – Wake & District – whose director Joe Brady donated practice chanters, drum sticks and pads for our students. They even donated their old hose and flashed and jump started us building our uniforms.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an accomplished marketer and business executive with over two decades of experience, specializing in building highly effective teams – both at work and at play :-). I’ve got a track record of delivering measurable results and a strong reputation for fostering collaboration. I take pride in seeing the folks I’ve had a chance to mentor going on to take on new roles and responsibilities.
What sets me apart is my ability to lead with agility, prioritize experimentation, and effectively integrate technology to ensure a competitive edge and immediate impact.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Best things: I really value the proximity to great state parks like Falls Lake for easy outdoor escapes. The dining and entertainment scene has become excellent. Plus, you can’t beat the location – being just a few hours from both the coast and the mountains is fantastic for weekend trips. The energy from the major universities and the diverse businesses they attract also adds a lot to the area’s vitality.
Least favorite things: Honestly, the biggest downside is the flip side of all that growth – the traffic can be tough, especially commuting into Raleigh proper. And like many growing areas, the cost of living and housing has certainly increased, and sometimes it feels like infrastructure struggles to keep up with the pace of development.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://ncirishpipeband.com/
- Instagram: angortamor_pipesanddrums
- Facebook: NCIrishPipeBand
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@angortamormemorialpipesdru5852
