Recently there was the return of the popular series ‘The Band’ on BBC Northern Ireland television which has three episodes and should now be available on iPlayer. The series marks USA 250 by exploring the stories of people who emigrated from Northern Ireland to America and Canada and found friendship and belonging through their passion for bands.
The series follows Danielle Hamilton Cooper from Cookstown, who emigrated to Philadelphia after meeting her husband Derek. Both are members of the Ulster-Scottish Pipe Band, founded in part by Derek’s great-grandfather in the 1920s.
Jemma Redmond from Cullybackey and Stephen Paynter from Markethill settled in Vancouver and forged lifelong friendships through the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band before returning home to marry in Belfast City Hall.
In Ottawa we meet Bethany who plays bagpipes with a local punk band and Lorna from Ballymoney who travels to the USA with Major Sinclair Memorial to perform at the prestigious Virginia International Tattoo.
Viewers will also meet Andrew Carlisle a long time member of Field Marshal who has built a successful piping career at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University, and Rod Christie who, whilst performing with the Winnipeg Police band at the Belfast International Tattoo explored his Ulster-Scots family history. Series 1–3 of ‘The Band’ are available on the iPlayer.
Antrim & Newtownabbey Championships took place at Antrim Castle Gardens on Saturday 18th July and despite a lower than usual entry due to the holidays, it proved to be a great day. The competition enjoyed the support of the local council, the Chieftain Mayor Henry Cushinan.
A really warm sunny day encouraged a large attendance with the majority of the spectators seated around the arena. Grade 4B was won by Bready Ulster Scots however it was good to see three junior bands in the prizes namely Tullylagan second, Cleland Memorial third, and Down Academy fourth.
Also competing was the junior band of Letterkenny while later in the day there was an inaugural performance from Kildoag’s new junior band (above). Ballybriest won Grade 4A, New Ross 3B, and McNeillstown both 3A and 2. The drum majors as usual had big numbers competing and the winners were Charlotte Adamson, Molly Bell, Carys Graham and Charlotte Ruddock.
The 73rd Ulster Championships took place on August 1 at the Ward Park Arras, Bangor. The competition enjoyed one of the largest attendances this season encouraged to a certain extent by excellent weather. The Chieftain was Mayor Craig Blaney of Ards & North Down Council, which supported the competition.
P/M Colin McClelland, Cottown Pipe Band, played the lament remembering those within the organisation who had passed away since last year. The Cardie McAllister Memorial Cup was presented to RSPBANI Branch President Mrs Betty Booth in memory of the longtime Major Sinclair Memorial member.
Thirty four bands entered with Bready Ulster Scots winning 4B. It was good to see Dromara make their competition debut. Grade 4A was won by Moneygore and 3B by Drumlough. McNeillstown won 3A, Manorcunningham Grade 2 and Ravara Grade 1. There was an entry of 48 D/Ms. Novice went to Charlotte Adamson while Molly Bell won the Juniors. Juvenile went to Jorja Turkington, and the Senior winner was Charlotte Ruddock.
On Saturday 8th August the local contest scene made its way to Lurgan Park for the Craigavon Championships. This event had also been specified by the NI Branch as the occasion where its 75th Anniversary was to be marked. The first ever RSPBANI Branch contest was the ‘Ulster Championships’ and it took place in Ballymena on the 5th June 1951.
The first band to play that day was Innishrush and their picture was featured on the programme last Saturday. Only two of the thirty four bands entered at Lurgan Park competed in 1951: Field Marshal Montgomery who were then unplaced in both the Junior 1 and 2 Grades, while the other, Cullybackey, won the Intermediate Grade and were 2nd in the Open Grade.
Belfast International Tattoo is at the SSE Arena September 4/5th 2026. The Friday evening show starts at 7.30pm while on the Saturday there is a matinee at 2pm and an evening show at 7.30pm. The organising team have put together a spectacular showcase of world-class performers from across the globe celebrating military music, dance, and cultural heritage.
The compere for the evening will be BBC presenter Helen Mark who has been responsible for scripting and presenting the Tattoo since its inception in 2013. Fife & Drum bands are well represented with Maghery making a reappearance together with the popular Schomberg Fife and Drum from Kilkeel.
Alongside those two bands, appropriately in this 250th Anniversary year of the USA is an appearance from the American Originals Fife & Drum Corps from Washington D.C. Formed in 1991 they are dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich musical traditions of early America.
The pipe bands performing are Altnaveigh Memorial from Newry who are celebrating their 80th anniversary and visitors from Australia the Riverina Highlanders.
If you are in Glasgow during Piping Live why not go along to the Big Rab Show’s 500th Podcast Show at the Piping Centre on Thursday at 2pm. Rab Lennox and his team will mark this milestone with a live recording. Featured artistes will be Cailean the Bagpiper, Drumlough and North Stratton pipe bands, and Hugh Smiton solo snare drummer.
- 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. Full results from all competitions here.
