(Updated) Connolly Steps Down as Celtic Flair Pipe-Major

Jamie Connolly, founding Pipe-Major of the Celtic Flair Pipe Band of Mississauga, Ontario, has officially left the band, with Fred Carmichael taking over effective immediately.

Sources close to Celtic Flair revealed on Monday that the band would make an official request to the Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario to be moved down to Grade 2.

No specific reason was given for Connolly’s departure, but sources say that the band is intent on going in a new direction. Carmichael, a member of Celtic Flair since 1999, was formerly Pipe-Major of the Grade 3 Brighton Legion Pipe Band of Ontario.

Celtic Flair has been Grade 1 since its inception, evolving from the former Toronto Transit Commission Pipe Band, a highly successful Grade 2 band in the 1990s, which then became the Dofasco Pipe Band, which in turn became Celtic Flair.

Sandy McKail, the band’s lead drummer, will remain in the position.

Despite its relative lack of success competing in Grade 1, Celtic Flair is well known for its inventive musical style. The band’s medleys are very popular, and its selection at the North American Championship at Maxville, Ontario, this year received what many believed was the loudest ovation of the day.

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