Clean Sweep for SLOT at All Irelands

On Saturday past, the 79th All-Ireland Pipe Band & Drum Major Championships took place at St Catherine’s Park in the village of Lucan, County Dublin. While there was a strong wind blowing across the arenas in the morning, it became quite pleasant and warm as the day went on. The big winners were St Laurence O’Toole (pictured top) who claimed their 9th Grade 1 title, pushing Field Marshal Montgomery into…

Details of Piobaireachd Society Gold Medal (Canada)

As PP readers might know, due to a few missed years (venue changes, covid) this is the 50th year of the Piobaireachd Society Gold Medal (Canada), writes Robert Wilson. The competition will be held on Friday, July 31st, 2026 at 8am in St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church, 34 Main St S., Maxville. Ontario. We have 11 entries in the Gold Medal contest. We’ve lined up ‘children’ of the original…

Editor’s Notebook: Glass Chanter/ Band Medleys/ Judging Proposal/ SPA Dates/ Schools Jobs

Can anyone stop Angus MacPhee winning his third Glass Chanter in a row? Angus is pictured above after his 2025 win. The Chanter and £200 is awarded to the piper with most points from wins on the northern Highland Games circuit. The journey to the prestigious award begins a week tomorrow (July 11) at Inverness Highland Games. There then follows a succession of qualifying events at Durness (July 24), Halkirk…

‘Beyond Highland Cathedral’ – Inspiring Pipers Gathering in New South Wales

Grafton District Services Club Pipe Band, New South Wales, hosted a piping get together entitled ‘Beyond Highland Cathedral’ on Saturday, June 13th. The meeting was inspired by those held a generation ago 100 miles away in Tenterfield NSW by the MacCabe family, writes Alastair McInnes. Many in Scotland will remember Lachlan McCabe and his brother who went round the games in the 80s. About 50 enthusiasts, pipers and drummers, enjoyed…

Drumtochty and Ceres Games Results

A good turnout of 14 years and under pipers with nine competitors at last weekend’s Drumtochty Games, writes Graham Brown. Unfortunately there were no entries for the U18 events and nobody entered the Open March or Strathspey & Reel. The 14 and Unders were allowed to play up and six competed in the U18 March and Strathspey and Reel . Because of the poor turnout the organisers also decided to…