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History of Emerald Societies in America

By Patrick F. O'Brien

The chronicles of the Public Safety Emerald Societies is relatively short in comparison to the history of the Irish in America. All through the annals of America, the Irish played an important role in shaping the United States. The Irish in America, not only made history, they consumed it. They are one of the premier success stories in the land of immigrants.

However, in the early days of America, the Irish immigrants were not always welcomed. They were the first ethnic group to live in the slums of the cities. Furthermore, the Irish were also the first ethnic group that were publicly discriminated against for jobs. It was common practice for employers to state “Irish need not apply”, so the only jobs they could get were low paying, back breaking work that few wanted. However, through determination and hard work the Irish overcame these and other obstacles. One profession that the Irish gravitated to were the Police and Fire Departments.

In the late part of the 19th century and early part of the 20th century, police jobs were undesirable because of the low pay and few benefits. In the fire departments it was worse; there was no pay because it was largely made up of volunteers. The Irish took up these professions because it was a way to become a part of America, a way to be accepted by mainstream America and a way to give back to their new found country. By the beginning of the 20th century, not only were the Irish fully immersed in the police and fire departments, they were in charge of them! The Irish transformed the job of watchman and fire watch into the organized police and fire departments of today.

Over the years the Irish started many of the traditions that are still in existence today. The Irish-American police officers and firefighters would march in mass in full uniforms at various community parades and the biggest contingent would always be in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. These men were very proud of their Irish heritage and equally as proud of being a police officer or firefighter.

One of the time honored views the public identifies with the Irish are the bagpipes. The Irish have made the bagpipes the adoptive instrument of the police and fire departments. The bagpipes were a revered musical instrument played in both Scotland and Ireland. In the middle ages in Scotland and Ireland, the bagpipes were used to rally the troops into battle, usually against the British. The fighting factions in Celtic lands used the bagpipes to assemble troops just as the United States Cavalry used the bugle. The English outlawed the bagpipes in Ireland (1366) and declared them an “instrument of war”. Anyone caught playing the bagpipes or harp was put to death. The bagpipes were also used during the funeral ceremonies when burying their fallen comrades. In the early days when a police officer or firefighter was killed in the line of duty, the Irish forefathers within these departments ensured that their fallen brothers were buried with full honors. In keeping with Celtic tradition, the Irish would play “the pipes” to bury their fallen. Today, that tradition transcends ethnic, racial and religious lines and the bagpipes are played at police and fire funeral regardless of race, color or creed. The Irish have made the playing of the bagpipes a part of the fabric of America and bagpipe bands an institution in many police and fire departments across the United States.

Continue to Part 2...