We had a lovely surprise last night while having a Saint Patrick’s Day dinner at the Cork Street Tavern in Winchester when the City of Winchester Pipes and Drums stopped by on their annual Pub Tour.

They played for about 15 minutes in the pub area of the restaurant, and we were able hear a variety of different instruments and watch the members, from teenagers to senior citizens, bring Saint Patrick’s Day to life.

I checked out their website today to learn more about them: “The City of Winchester Pipes and Drums is a musical organization dedicated to the highest standards of bagpipe music performed on the great highland bagpipes of Scotland. The band officially formed in July of 2002 and initially called itself The Northern Shenandoah Valley Pipes and Drums.

At its core were six friends who had been playing together informally in the northern Shenandoah Valley for several years. In 2002 they were joined by five other bagpipe enthusiasts and several drummers who were committed to learning the pipes and highland drumming and forming a band.

The band’s first public performance occurred in October of 2002 when, at the request of City of Winchester officials, the band provided music for the dedication of the new Timbrook Public Safety Building in Winchester. So pleased were city officials with the performance that the City Council voted to adopt the band as the official pipe band of the city and our name was changed to The City of Winchester Pipes and Drums.”

Even though we aren’t Irish and hadn’t even sufficiently dressed in green, we felt like we were just where we should be to celebrate this unique holiday that encourages everyone to be Irish for a day. We were drawn into the enthusiasm of the servers, the band, and the delicious Corned Beef and Cabbage.

It was a fun and entertaining dining experience, and any evening that includes a green beer must be considered special!