History of the Band
In 1973, a group of pipers who were former members of the Clan ná Gael Pipe Band, met to form a new Irish pipe band. They included Pete Murphy, Tom Canty, Jack Taylor, Jim Coll, Jim McPhillips and Joe Mathews. They were to be sponsored by the Philadelphia Emerald Society, a local organization of Irish-American police and firefighters. As the band grew, it became more active, participating in local parades and festivals. The band has marched in the Philadelphia and Wilmington St. Patrick's Day parades since the band's founding. In the 1980s, the band moved to the Commodore Barry Club (The Irish Center) where it has been practicing weekly ever since. Long-time band President, Jim McPhillips, was instrumental in the move. McPhillips, a piper, retired from piping in the late 1990s. He was a valued band member and is a great friend of the band. Since the 1980s, the band has competed in the eastern USA and has travelled to Ireland three times to participate in the All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships. Band Pipe Majors have included Tom Canty, Phil Townsend, Brian Widelitz, Joe Tobin and currently Rich Hall. The band is focused on growth and improvement and we hope to have years of continued success.

Leadership
Pipe Major: Richard Hall came to the Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band in 2006 as piping instructor. He became Pipe Major when Joe Tobin retired as Pipe Major in 2008. Richard is an accomplished Grade 1 piper and has been a competitive piper since age 12. Both as a bandsman and an individual piper, Rich has excelled. He comes from a family tradition of piping; his father was a piper in Ireland and the USA. Rich’s instructors have included Donald Leslie, Pipe Major of McGregor Pipe Band; John Rae Miller of Kearney, N.J.; and Bob Gilchrist, Pipe Major of the City of Wilmington Pipe Band. In addition to his duties as Pipe Major, Rich also teaches piping to interested individuals.

Pipe Major Emeritus & President: Joseph Tobin has been a member of the Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band since 1981. This long-time Pipe Major retired from the position in 2008. He is currently the Emerald Band President and a competition piper in the band. As Pipe Major, Joe led the band at the All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships three times, and served as Pipe Major at numerous competitions and parades over the years. He has competed both as an individual piper and bandsman for almost 24 years, at the Grade 3 and Grade 4 levels. His instructors included Casey Jones, member of the USAF Pipe Band; Phillip Townsend, former Pipe Major of Washington Memorial Pipe Band; Brian Widelitz, former Pipe Major; and Murray Henderson, world-class piper.

Pipe Sergeant: John Collins joined the band in August 1995. His teachers include P/M Joe Tobin and P/M Rich Hall. He's enjoyed watching the band grow and improve, first under Joe's leadership and now Rich's. There is a long-term, core group of pipers & drummers that have made Emerald what it is to John, both musically and socially. There have also been many memorable individuals that have spent time in the ranks, making this experience even better. He's looking forward to many continued years with Emerald.