Review: The Lark in The Evening, a Concert by St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band

Many people will be surprised to know that St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band has never played a high profile concert in their home city. Sure, there have been some low-key performances over the years, but nothing as significant as this. The announcement of ‘The Lark in The Evening’ was therefore a very welcome development and sold out quickly. The 400-seater Lark Theatre in the North County Dublin town of Balbriggan…

Record Entry at Atholl Gathering (Draws Updated)

Seventy three pipers, senior and junior, have entered for the Atholl Gathering to be held in the grounds of Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Perthshire, this Sunday May 25. Lists are capped at 25 in the C grade piobaireachd events. The music starts at 9.30am. Judges on duty are E Anderson, L Barclay, R Barnes, B Donaldson, A Forbes, D Fraser, P Hunt, W Morrison, L Tannock, DJ MacIntyre, R MacShannon,…

Inveraray Games Entries Open/ Blairgowrie Games Info

Inveraray Piping Secretary Brian Spalding: The entry form for the 2025 piping contests at the Inveraray Highland Games is now available online. Entry form here or via the Piping Section of the games website. Please refer to the Rules and Regulations on the entry form before committing to entry and tick the relevant boxes before submitting payment via PayPal. No other means of payment can be accepted and no payment…

‘Life, Times and Music of John Macdonald, Inverness’, by John H Shone – A Review

The name of John Macdonald, Inverness, must be one of the best known and illustrious in piping history. However, until now, there has not been a single account of his life and his influence on the development of piping, and piobaireachd in particular, during a critical period towards the end of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. By Alan Forbes John Shone has put that right in his…

Aberdeen Games/ Eilidh’s Trust/ SunBelt Invitational

Fraser Maitland: Aberdeen Highland Games are on Sunday, 15th June, at Hazelhead Park. Entry form is now live here. Three tunes in senior categories. We encourage those interested to enter before midnight 6th June; those who do will receive free entry to the park. Later entries accepted until 24 hours before the start of the games. Those entering on the day will play first and at the discretion of the…