When, in the early 80s, I first ventured to a then much-Troubled Northern Ireland there was a decided paucity of piobaireachd in the Province. Few played it; pipe bands scorned it.
A small ember of hope remained thanks to the oxygen of interest from the likes of Norman Dodds and Ken Stewart. What a lonely furrow they ploughed. Undaunted, their efforts, and that of teachers such as Andrew Wright and, in the south, Stephen Power, eventually led to a complete change in attitude towards classical pipe music on the island of Ireland.
By the Editor
Ken and Norman formed the Northern Ireland Piping Society to run an annual ‘Piper of the Year’ competition, a central plank of which would be ceòl mòr.
The first NI PoY was in 1979, 45 years ago. After a weekend in Ballymena for the 2024 edition I can happily report the interest in piobaireachd is higher than it’s ever been with a standard of performance and depth of repertoire far above that of the 1980s.
Those pesky pipe majors now love the stuff – or at least those who play it. They appreciate that any piobaireachd piper recruit will have a well maintained instrument and be able to blow steadily.
To the contest. Eleven pipers play. One is from Dublin another from Glasgow. They qualified by winning prizes in Ireland north and south.
We start with the piobaireachd, two tunes asked for. The room is spacious, the temperature temperate. First on is Kris Coyle playing Lament for the Viscount of Dundee. He has a nice, soft fingered, musical approach and the pipe hums harmonically throughout. Chedari struggles and he needs more C in the D throw.
Alistair Donaghy is going well in the ground of Beloved Scotland but he’s nipping and snatching as the tune progresses. Scott MacKay tends to mark out Macleod of Raasay with his feet, and the T&C is not focussed on the theme. Excellent hands on both these pipers.
Drew McAnally has the same tune; he hasn’t locked the drones in; the dre and crunluath are suspect. James Frazer, the 2023 champion, ventures forth with confident Seaforth grounds; into the toarluath and the drones are drifting; I’m distracted, he is too; he’s missed a crunluath.
The drifting drone disease has also infected Scott Wallace. A pity because his reading of the King’s Taxes is pleasing everyone. Andrew Pattison starts confidently in Captain MacDougall but he’s fluffing the dare movement and then timing the taorluath singling erratically. He’s losing some control in the crunluath doubling. A promising player this lad.
Andrew MacNeill of Colonsay by William Barrie was chosen for Marc Warnock. His pipe is full but strong; the bottom hand work is slurred and missed as he grips on. John McElmurry travels majestically through the ground of Isabel MacKay but there is scant difference in tempo urlar to taorlauth singling; he’s missing a gracenote in his hiharin birl and needs more C in the D throw.
The blowing on D is inconsistent as Andrew Nelson progresses through MacNeill of Barra. Rodin is weak and I’m hearing tight fingering and a staccato interpretation. Last on is James Stone from Dublin. Now this is a good pipe think I as he tunes up; this is a good tune think I as he delivers a nicely set out MacFarlane’s Gathering. He’s rushed the crunluath and overstretched the cadences, but overall? A contender.
After some deliberation, my result: 1 James Stone 2 Kris Coyle 3 Scott Wallace 4 Andrew Pattison 5 John McElmurry 6 James Frazer.
A brief rest, some culinary delights in the Adair Arms dining room, and we are ready for the MSR. Pipers play two of each and they can stop to tune after the marches if they wish. Most don’t. First on is Andrew Pattison: tight work but musical; choke; good tempi. James Frazer: Well crafted throughout, no technical issues; pipe solid this time.
John McElmurry: early with birls at end of parts in march; finger indistinct in places; off beat here and there in S&R; Alistair Donaghy: technique tending to pipe band; lacked two-bar phasing. Andrew Nelson: weak doublings; choke; Kris Coyle: steady, clean, pipe good, though better before he tuned.
James Stone: Slowish, uninspiring but clean; Marc Warnock: good drones; suspect bottom hand work; error; stopped; Scott MacKay: Nice playing; major error when heading for the list; Scott Wallace: A good MSR; couple of misses only; well set pipe. Drew McAnally: better here than in piob.; a few catches but kept going well.
Result: 1 James Frazer 2 Scott Wallace 3 Kris Coyle 4 John McElmurry 5 James Stone 6 Scott MacKay. Judges: L Brown, R Wallace.
Piper of the Year on piobaireachd preference: Kris Coyle. Best Junior Trophy: Andrew Pattison.
A Hornpipe & Jig contest is held separately from the other events. The winner was James Stone (a pleasing lilt to his jig). Runner-up: Kris Coyle.
This was an excellent day of piping: no wrong notes at all in the piobaireachd, pipes generally well set, a wide selection of tunes. Well done to all competitors who put themselves on the line. Congrats to the prizewinners and commiserations to those not placed; re-double your efforts for next year.
Thanks to Ken and his new committee men Ben Greeves and Michael McBride for keeping things running so smoothly. And a special thanks to Michael Egan from Limerick who acted as reader for the piobaireachd competition.
The Bagpiper’s Handbook…a must have for all pipers
