By Collette McCulloch
The Irish Piobaireachd Society held its annual contest and master class in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork on Saturday, February 2nd. Mitchelstown lies in the shadow of the Kilworth Hills made famous by GS McLennan in his retreat march of the same name.
We were delighted to welcome back Dr Jack Taylor who, after a day of adjudicating the event, took an enthusiastic group from all levels through the Battle of Waternish during the master class.
The Irish Piobaireachd Society would like to thank our sponsors RG Hardie and Cork County Council for supporting our event.
Overall winner on the day was Margaret Dunn finishing first in the Piobaireachd and second in the MSR, while Ryan Cupples – Menendez won the Open Grade now moving to the Former Winners level.
Mrs Dunn is pictured at the top of this article receiving the Bratach de Paor from Dr Taylor.
The group photograph above was taken just before the results were called out. In the next picture Alastair Dunn of sponsors RG Hardie presents his prize to Ryan Cupples-Menendez.
Full results:
Overall and Bratach de Paor: Margaret Dunn
Beginner Piobaireachd
1 Caoimhe Ni Charthaigh, Lament for Alasdair Dearg of Glengarry
U-18 Piobaireachd
1 Jane Carmody, Lament for Alasdair Dearg of Glengarry
2 Eamonn Casey, Glengarry’s Lament
Intermediate Piobaireachd
1 Michael Harvey, Glengarry’s March
2 Ryan Cupples-Menendez, Struan Robertson’s Salute
3 Con Houlihan, MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart No1
Former Winners’ Piobaireachd
1 Margaret Dunn, Lament for Donald Duaghal MacKay
2 Ben Greeves, Red Speckled Bull
3 Alastair Dunn, Prince’s Salute
4 Peter Donan, MacFarlane’s Gathering
5 Ashley McMichael, MacCrimmon’s Sweetheart
Open MSR (own choice)
1 Alastair Dunn
2 Margaret Dunn
3 Ashley McMichael
4 Ben Greeves
5 James Stone
The Irish Piobaireachd Society was founded in 1997 by Stephen Power (Waterford) and Con Houlihan (Cullen, Co.Cork).
It was firstly known as the North Cork Piobaireachd Society, secondly as the South of Ireland Piobaireachd Society and due to its growing success in 2004 was finally renamed the Irish Piobaireachd Society.
The aim of the IPS is the continued nurturing of the ancient classical music of the Highland bagpipe through expert tutition and solo competition.
The first annual competition was held in 1998 in the Duhallow Park Hotel, Co. Cork. The contest attracts pipers from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
