On Saturday past, the 79th All-Ireland Pipe Band & Drum Major Championships took place at St Catherine’s Park in the village of Lucan, County Dublin. While there was a strong wind blowing across the arenas in the morning, it became quite pleasant and warm as the day went on.
The big winners were St Laurence O’Toole (pictured top) who claimed their 9th Grade 1 title, pushing Field Marshal Montgomery into second. SLOT won every category available to them.
Manorcunningham won their second Grade 2 title while the Major Sinclair Memorial won Grade 3A, their first All-Ireland title since 1976. Black Raven won Grade 3B making it three in a row through 4B and 4A.
Carrigaline continued their good progress by winning 4A after last year’s 4B success. Hollymount from Downpatrick won Grade 4B, possibly their first ever All-Ireland title.
The venue was most suitable for the contest with parking close by and the only real complaint was the small amount of toilets for what was a large crowd of bands and spectators. The organisation was first class, and congratulations are due to the IPBA and RSPBANI officials and volunteers.
The Chieftain of the Day was the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tony Murphy, and present were RSPBA officials Colin Mulhern (CEO), Rachel Gillespie (Business Manager) and Robert Niven (Chairman) .
James Stone of St Laurence O’Toole played the lament in memory of those from the pipe band community who had passed away since last year. One of those, Pipe Major Michael Russell of Black Raven, was remembered through the presentation of a trophy by his daughters and sons. (Full results – see below.)
Season Finale
I was delighted to see that the RSPBANI Branch will be holding its season finale at Donard Park, Newcastle – and the most exciting thing is that it will be held after the World Championships on Saturday 22nd August, the first time in quite a few years this has happened.
For decades, bands and spectators have made an almost annual pilgrimage to the foot of the Mourne Mountains where the sea breeze, the mountain backdrop, and the unmistakable buzz of Newcastle combine to create one of the most cherished atmospheres in the contest calendar.
This year, that familiar magic comes with an extra spark — they arrive just one week after ‘The Worlds’, giving local bands the perfect chance to celebrate any newly crowned World Champions and welcome home those who represented our Branch with pride and prestige.
Once all the trophies have been presented it will then be time to finish the contest season in style with the usual parade of the Newcastle Promenade.
William Kennedy Festival
After a year’s break, the William Kennedy International Piping Festival will return on the 12th – 15th November 2026. Founded in 1994 by Eithne Vallely and named in honour of William Kennedy, a blind mechanical genius who made a major contribution to the development of the uilleann pipes.
Amongst the artistes appearing are uilleann pipers Louise Mulcahy, Brian McNamara, Mark Redmond and Sinéad Uí Mhurchadha. From Asturia there is Rubén Alba, twice winner of the Macallan prize.
Éamonn Galldubh’s ensemble will add a touch of the baroque, and Cape Breton piper Kevin Dugas returns as a soloist. From France Seb Lagrange and Gaël Rutkowski are joined by uilleann piper Marc Pollier to form the Glen Road Trio. A special concert marking sixty years of Armagh Pipers Club will feature many distinguished alumni.
Mid Ulster Championships
On Saturday 6th June Mid Ulster Pipe Band Championships took place in the grounds of Cookstown High School. While the weather was inclement throughout, it did not affect the competitiveness with most grades closely fought.
Except for Black Raven taking the Grade 3B title, the results were very much a repeat of the County Fermanagh Championship. Tullylagan claimed Grade 4B, however they tied on points with Hollymount and won on Ensemble Preference.
Moneygore found favour with all four adjudicators to lift the Grade 4A title. Matt Boyd Memorial were the Grade 3A winners but again they needed Ensemble Preference to overcome Major Sinclair Memorial. Manorcunningham were the choice of all four adjudicators to take the Grade 2 title ahead of Tullylagan.
Ravara, as will be the case at most local competitions this season, claimed the Grade 1 title unopposed. However they put on a superb display. There were four different winners in the drum majors competition. Mollie McMahon won the Novice section, Rosie McKinstry the Junior, Carys Graham the Juvenile and Charlotte Ruddock the Adult.
Moira Championships
On Saturday 20th June 2026 the Lisburn & Castlereagh Pipe Band Championships took place in Moira Demesne. Twenty three bands and forty nine drum majors competed.
The weather couldn’t have been better, creating a great environment for competitors and spectators alike. Competition as it has been from the start of the outdoor season was top class and in Grade 4B Holymount at long last got the better of Tullylagan. Gransha had their first win of the season in Grade 4A ahead of near neighbours Moneygore.
Upper Crossgare won Grade 3B ahead of Moneygore who played up a grade and shared the best pipes prize. Matt Boyd Memorial took Grade 3A, Tullylagan Grade 2 and Ravara Grade 1. The Drum Major grades were won by Charlotte Adamson [Novice], Jolly Gracey [Junior], Carys Graham [Juvenile] and Louis Anderson [Adult].
Season Break
There is no contest on Saturday 11th July, however on Saturday the 18th July its back to action at the Antrim & Newtownabbey Championships. There is an entry of twenty bands, with Down Academy Pipes & Drums, Cleland Memorial and Letterkenny & District all fielding their development band.
I also understand that a development band from Kildoag which while not competing this year will make an appearance. This highlights the great work being done within the bands to develop you players. The adjudicators are Willie Garrett and John Moles [Piping], Keith Orr [Drumming], Colin Moffett [Ensemble] and Colin Turtle [M&D].There is a bumper entry of fifty four drum majors across the four sections and they will be adjudicated on by Brian Wilson MBE and Kathy Calvin.
This is followed on Saturday 25th July it’s the Scottish Championships in Dumbarton with ten bands and twenty two drum majors travelling over to compete. The Ulster Championships are being held in Bangor on Saturday 1st August followed by Lurgan on Saturday 8th August a competition which I understand will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the RSPBANI Branch.
Large numbers of NI Branch and IPBA bands are expected to travel to the Worlds on 14th / 15th August and then the pipe band season will conclude at Newcastle on 22nd August with the Heart of Down Championships and the Champion of Champions competition.
- Full results from these competitions here. If you have any news from the NI piping and pipe band scene you’d like to pass on to Gilbert, please email him here.
