RSPBA NI Branch confirm contests/ Leinster Contest/ Howth Contest/ 10th Bangor BB

The RSPBA NI Branch have now confirmed all of their venues for the 2024 season and have also confirmed that several dates have fallen by the wayside. The mini band contest which had been organised by Irvine Memorial for May 4th in Fivemiletown was cancelled due to lack of entries, whilst the NI Branch competition set for June 15th failed to find a host council and it too has been…

Northern Ireland News: Ravara Concert Review/ Richard Parkes Masterclass/ County Down Results

The Lagan Valley Island Centre in Lisburn City was packed to capacity on Saturday, April 27th, the audience eager to hear Ravara Pipe Band ‘Live in Concert’. Those who attended were not disappointed. David Scott fulfilled the role of compere in his usual inimitable style. P/M Samuel Connolly’s band consisted of up to 22 pipers who were supported by D/S Matthew Shaw’s corps of 12 sides, six tenors and a…

Northern Ireland News: Ulster Championships Blow/ Bereavements/ Blackthorn/ Irvine Mini Bands/ Leinster Contest

The RSPBANI Executive has announced that Mid & East Antrim Council has withdrawn funding for the Ulster Championships, due to take place at Ballymena Academy on the 3rd August.  RSPBANI Branch Chairman Alastair Patterson expressed the disappointment of the Branch whilst fully understanding the funding difficulties within councils. The Branch is appealing to bands people and their supporters in Mid & East Antrim to speak with their councillors to ensure…

Northern Ireland News: Bangor Welcomes the UKs/ St Mary’s/ Ardmore Cup/ RSPBA Regradings

The official launch of the first RSPBA Major contest of 2024, the United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships, took place recently in Bangor. The contest is on Saturday, 18 May, at Ward Park, Arras, Bangor. The RSPBA Northern Ireland branch are hosting the event in partnership with Ards and North Down Borough Council. The Championships will feature some 1,500 musicians in 75 bands. At the launch, Mayor Jennifer Gilmour, said: ‘Ards…

Northern Ireland News: Boghall to Headline Concert/ Bands Recruiting/ Ravara Concert/ James Frazer Outstanding at Blackthorn

World Champions Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate are to headline the ‘Kids with Cancer Charity’ concert on Saturday, 24th March 2024, in the Royal Hotel, Cookstown. The band, under the leadership of Pipe Major Ross Harvey and Leading Drummer Kerr McQuillan, World Solo Drumming Champion, have agreed to return to Northern Ireland for the first time in over a decade. I would expect a full house to see this outstanding…