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History
The Queensland Irish Association Pipe Band has existed under different names and associations since before the turn of the Twentieth Century making it one of the oldest bands in Queensland and the oldest Irish Pipe Band in Australia. The Queensland Irish Association was formally established on March 23rd 1898, following the resignation, "en Masse", of the members of the 6 Companies of Queensland Irish Volunteers in the Queensland Land Defence Force. Ex-members of the volunteers combined with the H.A.C.B.S. to found the new Association and the Inaugural Secretary was Major P.J. Stephens, former Commandant of the Irish Volunteers. Although there is no direct relationship the Association can be regarded as a descendant of the Queensland Hibernian Association which was founded in 1871, and the principles of the earlier Association are embodied in the Constitution of the Queensland Irish Association.
Over the years the Queensland Irish Association Pipe Band has at times had two or three bands at the same time, including for a period in the 1980’s two Grade 1 bands. The bands have won the Australian Championships in Grade 3 in 1963 and 1970 and Grade 1 in 1976, 1980 and 1986. In addition the band has won New South Wales, East Coast, and National Championships as well as Queensland Championships in Grades 1, 2 and 3 too many times to list here.
Internationally the band has competed successfully with wins in Grade 1 in New Zealand and results as high as 2nd in Scotland and Ireland, wins in Grades 2 in Scotland, Ireland and New Zealand and wins in Grade 4 in Scotland.
Major International results include World Champion Overseas Band 1978, 1981 & 1985 Grade 2 and 1985 Grade 4, 2nd 1978 South East Ireland Championships Grade 1, 2nd 1978 European Championships Grade 2, 3rd 1981 Cowal Games Grade 2, 3rd 1981 Cowal Games Drum Corps Grade 2, 6th 1981 World Championships Grade 2, 3rd 1981 World Championships Drum Corps Grade 2, 2nd 1981 Scottish Champion of Champions Grade 2, 1st 1985 Cowal Games Grade 2, 2nd 1985 British Championships Grade 2, 5th 1985 World Championships Grade 4, 4th 1985 British Championships, and Cowal Games Grade 4 3rd 1985 World Championships Grade 2, 1st 1988 & 1990 New Zealand Drum Corps Champions Grade 1, and 1st 1988 New Zealand Champions Grade 2.
The Band has performed at international venues such as Feqstivale de Celtiquie de Lorient in France in 1985, 1999, 2006 and 2008; the Rose of Tralee Fesitvale in Ireland 1998 &2008 ,Competitions in Scotland and Ireland including the World Championships in 1978, 1981, 1985, in New Zealand in 1988 & 1990 and in France in 2006 and 2008.