This article is about the Notre Dame pageantry troupe. For the British Army regiment, see Irish Guards. For the Republic of Ireland police force, see Garda Síochána.
The Irish Guard is a group of uniformed students that leads the University of Notre Dame's Band of the Fighting Irish onto the field at home games. They are considered by some to be one of the integral parts in the pageantry, lore, and legend of Notre Dame football.
Under the direction of Louis Snedden, of South Bend, the pipers had been practicing since the previous spring, Scholastic reported. Snedden was a piper aboard British
ships, and trained a Reserve Pipe Band in England before immigrating to the U.S., Scholastic reported.
By 1953, the unit was known as the Irish Guard and the members no longer played instruments.
The uniform of the guard is based on the pattern of the traditional Scottish kilt and incorporated the unique Notre Dame tartan.
They accompany the Notre Dame Marching Band at away games throughout the season, and at all home games at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish Guard travels with the band to away games and marches with the band on campus. These traditions include the Victory Clog to the tune "Damhsa Bua" performed after every Irish football win.[1][page needed].
Requirements
Members of the Irish Guard must demonstrate a refined marching technique, a dedication to university ideals, and, most importantly, stature and poise.
For decades, the Irish Guard was an all-male unit. In 2000, student Molly Kinder tried out and became the first female member of the unit. There have been several more female guardsmen in the years since.
In 2014, Notre Dame Band Director Kenneth Dye instituted a policy that limited Irish Guard membership to students who had previously served for at least one year in the marching band as an instrumentalist or manager. The requirement that guardsmen stand at least 6 foot tall was eliminated. This policy change ended the decades-long tradition that allowed any Notre Dame student in good standing to tryout for the Irish Guard.[2]
Notes
^Coyne, Kevin (1996). Domers. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN9780140178982.