Author: Gilbert Cromie

75th All Ireland Pipe Band Championships Report

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After a break of two years, the 75th All Ireland Pipe Band Championships finally took place last Saturday July 2nd at Pearse Park, New Ross, County Wexford. There was considerable disappointment two days before the event when the St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band, who were the All-Ireland title holders, had to withdraw due to a  an outbreak of covid-19 which resulted in a significant number of players testing positive and others displaying symptoms. Weather…

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News From the Northern Ireland Pipe Band Scene

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A couple of months ago I was at the launch of a new book of piping tunes, the majority of which were composed by County Armagh piper Jim Livingston.  I have rarely come across many tune book launches locally over the years except for the Sean Maloney publication several years ago, although there have been many celebrated local composers whose work has been included in other collections published in Scotland….

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Antrim Contest Look Back – and Look Forward to Euros at Inverness

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Last Saturday the grounds of Antrim Castle Gardens echoed to the sound of pipe bands as it hosted the third of the local RSPBA NI Branch’s 2022 competition programme. Twenty one bands and twenty six drum majors competed on the day and despite the absence of a number of the leading bands there was a good attendance of spectators. Closkelt once again won the Grade 1 contest unopposed however they…

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A Look Back at Lurgan and FMM’s Auld Boys

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The County Armagh town of Lurgan and its sprawling park was the setting for the second RSPBA Major of the season, the United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships. The weather was extremely changeable with a warm but blustery morning followed by heavy showers from the start of the Grade 1 competition before it settled back to being dry. It was hard to determine crowd numbers as the grades were well spread…

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News from Over the Water – Closkelt Concert/ Ulster Entries Down/ Blackthorn Pipers/ Cleland Celebrate Bunting/ Matt Boyd and Prince Charles

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March 26th saw Closkelt Pipe Band take to the stage of the Market Place Theatre in Armagh for a concert promoted by the band. Compère on the night was radio presenter Rab Lennox of ‘Big Rab Show’ and BBC ‘Kintra’ fame. Headlining the show was the host band itself led by Pipe Major David Chesney and new Leading Drummer Brendan McGoran and they gave a glimpse of some of their…

More News from Over the Water – Closkelt Concert/ Ulster Entries Down/ Blackthorn Pipers/ Cleland Celebrate Bunting/ Matt Boyd and Prince Charles