Author: Gilbert Cromie

Heart of Down Contest Brings Curtain Down on the NI Branch Season

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Donard Park in Newcastle, County Down, was the setting for the Heart of Down Pipe Band Championships, the final event of the RSPBANI Branch outdoor competition season and also the conclusion of the 2022 Champion of Champions league calculated on the five competitions over the summer.  The competition had the largest entry of bands and drum majors at any local contest this season and there was also a largely attended…

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Big Names at Final NI contest of Season and Ulster Pipe Band Championship Report

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The next and final RSPBANI Branch competition of the season will take place on Saturday August 6th at the Donard Park, Newcastle, County Down. There is an entry of thirty seven bands including Field Marshal Montgomery and St Laurence O’Toole in Grade 1 and thirty three drum majors. This event will also see the culmination of the seasons Champion of Champions competition and a large crowd is expected to attend, particularly for…

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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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