Trooping the Colour
The Queen's Birthday Parade 2009 saw the 1st Battalion Irish Guards provide the Escort to the Colour, for the 12th time, since the formation of the Regiment by Queen Victoria in 1900. With an estimated seven thousand five hundred spectators on Horse Guards Parade, and a television audience of millions; the Regimental Mascot (Conmael) lead the Regimental Band, Pipes and Drums, followed by two hundred and eighty Guardsmen and Officers onto parade. Following the Inspection of the line by the Sovereign, the Regiment proceeded to Troop' their newly presented 'Queen's Colour' before Her Majesty the Queen on her 83rd birthday.
Major Shannon is the first Director of Music from the Emerald Isle and was responsible for the selection of music. Judging by the comments received following the parade, everyone seemed to enjoy the foot-tapping accompaniment to this national event.
Lance Corporal Martin