The recent Kids with Cancer Charity Concert was an outstanding success and if you tune into the Big Rab Show YouTube channel you will be able to enjoy it yourself.
Northern Ireland has hosted many top quality concerts throughout the years, featuring some of the greatest pipe bands of the modern era but the lineup that was brought together at the Royal Hotel, Cookstown, last month surely surpasses the best of them.
The headline act was St Laurence O’Toole from Dublin and their World Champion drum corps, and they did not disappoint. Two other band formations also took to the stage and for them it was nostalgia all the way.
The ’70s Tribute Band led by Pipe Major David Caldwell and Drum Sergeant John Scullion played a series of sets which reflected the early days of the pipe band medley.
The development of the medley over later decades was highlighted in the tribute to P/M Richard Parkes MBE who retired from leadership of the Field Marshal Montgomery last September. A special charity FMM concert band featuring past and present members played a number of tunes from the band’s extensive repertoire of medleys – and for the final tune they were joined by Richard.
Arts Council NI Funding
The RSPBA NI Branch has bought a portable power station for use at this season’s contests. It will power the various temporary compiling offices without the expense of hiring a generator. The EcoFlow Delta Max (1600) cost £860. It will remain the property of the RSPBANI for a minimum of seven years and will be covered by their public, employers and product liability insurance. This important acquisition was funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department for Communities.
Ulster Solos
Cookstown High School was the setting for the annual Ulster Solo Piping & Drumming Championships. The NI Branch assembled an experienced adjudication panel comprising David Caldwell, David Chesney and Mark Faloon (Piping) and Adrian Hoy, Ian Lawson and Gary Smyth (Drumming including Bass & Tenor).
The big winners were Alastair Donaghy* who beat off the challenge of James Frazer to lift the Ulster Piping title on piobaireachd preference. Stephen Creighton got the nod over Alex Buchanan on MSR preference to take his fifth Ulster Drumming title and fourth in a row.
Novice: Practice Chanter: 1 H Hamilton-Bell; Advanced Practice Chanter: 1 E Brownlee, Novice Piping: 1 N Lau; U14 Piping: 1 H Spencer; U16 Piping: 1 D McBlain; U18 Piping: 1 S Townsley; U16 Pìobaireachd: 1 M Stinson; Piobaireachd B: 1 Andrew Nelson; C Grade Junior Piping: 1 Alistair Williams; B Grade Piping: 1 Reece Doherty; Piobaireachd A: 1 Alastair Donaghy; A Grade Senior Piping: 1 James Frazer; H&J: 1 Alastair Donaghy; Overall Ulster Piping Champion 2025: 1 Alastair Donaghy 2 James Frazer 3 Kris Coyle (Piob. Pref.).
Drum Pad: 1 A Fitzsimmons; Advanced Drum Pad: 1 Jack Semple; Unaccompanied Snare: 1 H Turkington, U14: 1 C Freeburn; U16: 1 L Doherty; U18: 1 J Green; C Grade: 1 S Bready; B Grade: 1 S McLees; A Grade MSR: 1 Stephen Creighton; A Grade H&J: 1 Ashley Fyffe; Drumming Champion: 1 Stephen Creighton (MSR Pref.) 2 Alex Buchanan 3 Ashley Fyffe; Bass/Tenor: U14 Tenor: 1 L Semple; U16 Tenor: 1 O McIlwaine; C Tenor: 1 S Hanna; A Tenor: 1 J Cousins; Open Bass: 1 Ewan Smyth.
- St. Patrick’s weekend saw the Belfast TradFest Solo Piping Competition when Alastair Donaghy again came out on top. The line-up of pipers included Ashley McMichael, Sean Maloney, Alan Glenholmes, Kris Coyle and Reece Doherty. Alastair will now represent Ireland at the MacCrimmon Trophy at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient this August.
New Chairman
Following the news back in early February that Chairman Alastair Patterson had stepped down from the RSPBANI, many were wondering who his replacement would be. We need wonder no more because Andrew Graham has stepped forward.
Based in Ballynahinch, he is following in the footsteps of fellow townsman the late, great Eddie McVeigh who held the office twice from 1951 – 1952 and from 1956 – 1966.
Andrew has been part of the RSPBANI compiling team for around ten years. His involvement in bands deepened when his eldest daughter, Kirsty, began learning and competing as a tenor drummer before eventually progressing to snare drum. Then his other daughters Caitlin and Carys became competing drum majors with Andrea McKeown Gibson’s County Armagh Drum Major Group of which he is now Chairman.
Last Autumn he accepted an invitation to join the RSPBANI Executive Committee as Vice Chair, and in February, with the endorsement of the Executive Committee, he agreed to step into the role of Branch Chairman when Alastair Patterson resigned.
While he would have preferred a little more time to gain experience, especially with the 2025 season fast approaching, he feels his task is made easier by the wealth of knowledge and experience shared by his fellow Branch Officers and three RSPBA Branch Directors.
Beth Adger
County Antrim Section has expressed its sadness and shock at the passing of their friend and esteemed Chairwoman Beth Adger following a short illness. Formally known and highly respected as Alderman Beth Adger MBE, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, she was a tireless and committed member of the Section.
She greatly enjoyed being the Chieftain of Day at the 71st Ulster Championships, Ballymena, in 2022. Her interest in the Branch grew from her initial association with Seven Towers band, Ballymena. Beth opened her home for committee meetings and her hospitality was both generous and very tasty!
Elected as County Antrim Section Chairwoman in 2024, Beth’s kindness, wisdom and energy for ‘getting things done’ was an inspiration. The members of the County Antrim Section will miss Beth’s practical approach and humour and will always be so thankful for her friendship, interest and involvement and in that of the whole Northern Ireland Branch.
- If you have any news from the piping and pipe band scene you’d like to pass on to Gilbert please email him here.
