Field Marshal Live on Facebook from 1pm/ Highlands & Islands Launch Syllabus

Those following Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band may like to tune in to their live practice for the Irish Oscars today at 1pm. Here’s the link. FMM are to receive a special award for their contribution to Irish music.  The  band will be presented with the award at the Gradam Ceoil concert and awards ceremony at Belfast Waterfront tomorrow live on television channel TG4. A local newspaper reported: ‘Widely regarded…

‘Big’ Donald MacLean and Arm Swapping and Harry’s Father’s Pipes

I read George Taylor’s letter re swapping arms, writes Duncan Watson. Re Donald Maclean. I understood that big Donald did start playing under the right arm and to conform with others in the pipe band scene in the Army he was ‘instructed’ to  switch to his left arm. Counter marching through pipers in a band seemed to a problem with cords getting in a tangle. The late Willie MacDonald (Benbecula) could…