Clean Sweep for SLOT at All Irelands

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…

Review: ‘Around the Worlds’, a New Book on the Development of the Grade 1 World Championship

In October last year I was contacted by the author Iain Duncan seeking some assistance with regard to Northern Ireland’s Grade 1 bands for a project he was working on relating to the World Pipe Band Championships.  As the months went by Iain’s project developed into a publication entitled ‘Around the Worlds’. It focusses on the development and evolution of the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championship and also the…

Northern Ireland: Fermanagh Champs./ Leinster Contest/ Calendar/ Quartets/ Drum Majors

The good weather couldn’t have come at a better time when the County Fermanagh Championships took place on Saturday 23rd May 2026. Many congratulations to the County Fermanagh Section for finding an excellent venue for this first outdoor competition of the season.  The Castle Irvine Necarne Estate in Irvinestown is a real gem with plentiful car parking facilities as well as the dining / bar area of the indoor equine…

Northern Ireland News

The 2026 Ulster Adult Solo Championship took place at Cookstown High School on Saturday 18th April. There was a large entry from all over Ireland and indeed a few from England and Scotland. Top of the list was Rathfriland’s James Frazer whose wins in the MSR and Piobaireachd, together with a second place in the Hornpipe and Jig, made him Ulster Adult Piping Champion. Alex Buchanan became Ulster Adult Drumming…

Northern Ireland News

Ulster at the Duncan Johnstone: On Saturday 21st March a number of pipers from Northern Ireland took part in the annual Duncan Johnstone Memorial competition in Glasgow. The overall winner of the B Grade competitions was Andrew Pattison, while Scott Wallace was the Grade C winner. The B Piobaireachd was won by Rathfriland’s James Frazer who also placed fifth in the B MSR and second in the B Jig. Scott…