Callum Beaumont came out on top at the semi final of the Scottish Pipers’ Association Knock Out competition held last night in the Otago Street premises of the National Piping Centre.
His opponent was Stuart Liddell. There was a substantial crowd and each member of the audience had a vote in who went forward to the final on May 2 where Callum will play against John Patrick.
The Irish Pipe Band Association has sent this: ‘The town of Fingal is set to host the 75th All Ireland Pipe Band Championships 2020 in the stunning grounds of Newbridge House and Farm in Donabate in July.
The Championships which will take place on Saturday, July 4, are organised under the joint auspices of the Irish Pipe Band Association and Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland.
Supported by Fingal County Council, over 60 pipe bands from all over Ireland and overseas will descend on Newbridge House grounds to compete for the coveted tile of All Ireland Champions, in piping and drumming in six different grades. It is expected that an audience in the region of 3,000 will attend.
As well as piping and drumming over 50 Drum Majors will compete for All Ireland titles. The Championships is the showpiece of piping and drumming in Ireland and is well worth a visit.
The All Ireland Pipe Band Pipe Band Championships began life in 1946 when the famous Eddie McVeigh from Northern Ireland was visiting Dublin heard the sound of the then famed Fintan Lalor Pipe Band practising in a Trade Union Hall in Parnell Square.
A friendly discussion took place about who had the best bands Northern Ireland or the Irish Republic, at that chance meeting it was decided to hold an All Ireland competition in Dublin the first Saturday in July of that year. The championships have been held ever since.
Seamus Russell, Vice President of the IPBA: ‘The venue is right on the motorway and will suit bands coming from the north or south with plenty of parking and space for motorhomes. We will have a more detailed announcement in the middle of May but I hope as many bands as possible will mark the day in their diaries.’
The All-Ireland is my favourite contest of the year (always has been), and I’ll be there with my band MMPB.
Unfortunately the predicted 30,000 crowd won’t materialise, because whatever the bands seem to do these days, the wider public simply don’t support us.
Even the Worlds can no longer command that level of attendance. What’s to be done? Discuss