Saint Columcille United Gaelic of Kearny, NJ, draws its name from an Irish prince, warrior and scholar who became a priest to bring early Christianity to the Western Isles of Ireland and Scotland. From the Isle of Iona, Columcille (521-597) helped spread faith, knowledge and culture throughout Europe. It’s an ideal that drove the band’s founder, Sean McGonigal, to form a band dedicated to “unity of the Gael.” Sean expressed his goal in the band’s motto, “Ar aghaidh le ceol na n’Gael," “Onward with the music of the Gael.”

The band continues to live by this motto today. The bands sponsored by Saint Columcille United Gaelic have competed at numerous Irish Feis and Scottish Games since the 1950s, culminating in numerous national and international championship honors. Members of our band have further distinguished themselves as top soloists, teachers, and as leaders of the Eastern U.S. Pipe Band Association. While the band routinely performs at parades, dances, benefits, concerts. and other public events, we continually improve and test ourselves through the “competition circle.” The bands’ ideals, set forward by Sean in 1949, remain the mantra of the Saint Columcille United Gaelic organization today.

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