Competitors have been announced for the Donald MacDonald Cuach Piobaireachd Competition held on Sleat, Skye. The competition is now in its 33rd year. It takes place in Armadale Castle Stables Café on June 7 and will be livestreamed via their website and Facebook page. Tickets are available in advance (£10, under 16s free).
The pipers and tunes will be:
- Callum Beaumont – A Ghlas-mheur (The Fingerlock)
- Glenn Brown – Sean Chumha a Chlaidheimh (The Old Lament for the Sword)
- Finlay Johnston – Lament for the Departure of King James (Siubhal Sheumais)
- Stuart Liddell – Fàilte Fear Bhaghasdail (Boisdale’s Salute)
- Peter McCalister – An T-arm Breac Dearg (The Red Speckled Army)
- Iain Speirs – Spaidearachd Bharrach (The Pride of Barra)
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The event is sponsored by Clan Donald Lands Trust with support from international donors. The adjudicator will be Colin MacLellan and the singer will be Griogair Labhruidh. Fear an Taighe is Dr Angus Macdonald. The event is sponsored by Clan Donald Lands Trust with support from international donors.
The competition this year is part of a wider programme of events, Clan Donald Gaelic Arts Week / Seachdain nan Ealan Gàidhlig aig Clann Dòmhnaill, supported by Event Scotland’s Clan Event Fund.
The competition this year is part of a wider programme of events, Clan Donald Gaelic Arts Week / Seachdain nan Ealan Gàidhlig aig Clann Dòmhnaill, supported by Event Scotland’s Clan Event Fund.
Other events in the week include a talk, ‘Introduction to Piobaireachd’, by Dr Decker Forrest (course leader, Gaelic and Traditional Music, at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig), as well as a clarsach competition, pop up performances and a family activity day. More information at www.armadalecastle.com/events
Biographies
- Callum Beaumont is a piping instructor at Dollar Academy. Callum’s solo achievements have included winning both Gold Medals, the Silver Chanter, the Bratach Gorm and the Clasp at the Northern Meeting in 2015 and 2018.
- Glenn Brown hails from Milton, Ontario, Canada. Some prizes of note in Piobaireachd are the Canadian Gold Medal, the Dunvegan Medal and the Northern Meeting Gold Medal. In 2018 Glenn won the Bratach Gorm in London.
- Finlay Johnson teaches at the National Piping Centre and has played in several pipe bands over his career. In 2018 he was the overall winner in the Glenfiddich Championship.
- Stuart Liddell, from Inveraray, is founder and Pipe Major of the Inveraray & District Pipe Band, winners of the World Pipe Band Championship in 2017. He has won both Gold Medals and is a two-time Glenfiddich Piping Champion.
- Dr Peter McCalister started learning pipes aged nine and competed as an amateur for some years. He joined the CPA in 2009 and went on to win the Silver Medal in Oban (2012) and then the Gold Medal in Inverness (2018).
- Iain Speirs won the Donald MacDonald Cuach in 2009, 2016 and 2018. Other prizes include the Gold Medals at the Argyllshire Gathering and the Northern Meeting, the Clasp, the Senior Piobaireachd and the Silver Chanter.
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