At the 1996 Ohio Highland Games, Pipe Major Sandy Hain was first approached about forming a a competition pipe band.
Over the next several months, Sandy discussed the idea with a number of his students. The response the he received was very positive and the Red Hackle Pipes and Drums
held its first meeting and practice on January 26, 1997. The first group consisted of twelve of Sandy's piping students and members of various non-competitive bands
and grew to about twenty members.
This group entered the 1998 season at the Edinboro Highland Games in Pennsylvania and the band placed for the first time. More contests followed as well as more prizes.
In 1998, a parade unit was formed and additional pipers and drummers from the Cleveland area joined the band.
In 1999, the band competed at the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
The name of the band, "The Red Hackle" and the wearing of the Black Watch cap badge and red hackle on our glengary bonnets is due to Sandy Hain's membership in the Black Watch,
where he was the Pipe Major of the 2nd Battalion, 42nd Royal Highland Regiment.
The band's music collection was put together at the insistence of Sandy so that his many students and band members of the Red Hackle Pipes and Drums would have a standard set of music to play.
The band currently consists of 55 members and all are welcome to join, regardless of experience.
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