Author: Gilbert Cromie

Ballycoan Part 2 – From Small Beginnings, A Decade of Dominance for the Band

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Ballycoan were definitely on their way and the 1950s were to see a decade of unprecedented success for them, winning, as they did, the All Ireland Championship band title on no less than seven occasions and the drumming on six. Pictured above, P/M William Wood receives the All Ireland Senior Trophy in 1951. But before we get to that terrific run of success, let us firstly go back a few…

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The Famous Ballycoan, Northern Ireland’s Second Most Successful Pipe Band Ever

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Ballycoan is a hamlet near the village of Purdysburn on the southern outskirts of Belfast. Despite its rural setting it supports both a flute band (formed in 1951) and a pipe band both of which are private organisations and, unusually, own their own band halls. Aside from the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, which was formed just half a dozen miles further up the road outside Carryduff, the Ballycoan Pipe…

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Kids with Cancer Online Charity Concert Planning Continues

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Planning is continuing at pace for the forthcoming ‘Kids with Cancer Charity Concert’ which will be held on Saturday 20th February 2021 from 7.00pm. Due to the pandemic the concert will take place online however every effort has been made to engage a quality line-up of artistes. This is a PAY PER VIEW ONLY event with the money raised going to the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity at the Royal Victoria Hospital,…

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Pipe Band History – Robert Armstrong Memorial Part 3

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Throughout the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s the band were regularly featured on BBC Northern Ireland Radio programmes such as ‘Ulster Band’. In 1974 they were invited to perform in a BBC television programme entitled ‘The Rock of Fergus’ along with The Pattersons folk group and harpist Deirdre O’Callaghan. It was one of a number of television appearances throughout this period. The band is pictured above 1974/75 at Carrickfergus Castle. The band…

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Pipe Band History – Robert Armstrong Memorial Part 2

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Following the retiral of Harry Denyer, Tommy Geddis took on the role of Pipe Major which he held for two years, 1955 – 1956, after which his family went to live in Canada. The RAMS are pictured above in 1956. From the 1955 season the Armstrong played in the Open Grade at home whilst in Scotland it was Grade 3. Successes included winning the Open Grade Ulster title (also drums)…

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