Quote Originally Posted by cajunscot View Post

Because the pipes are also associated with the Irish, and many police and fire departments, the traditional occupation of many Irish immigrants, have pipe bands.

Regards,

Todd
Todd-

You bring up another excellent question that I have always wondered at. Police and fire departments are traditional occupations for Irish immigrants. That's why I've always wondered how scottish pipes and drums bands (dressed in highland regalia) became associated (iconic even) of police, fire, and military funerals and other events. Clearly those departments have strong associations with Irish immigrants, so why the Scottish identity? Were those early Irish firemen and policemen of mixed Scots-Irish descent?

This is why I grew up thinking that kilts were Irish.