Silver Chanter 2020: Another Perspective

By Jimmy McIntosh MBE I don’t know if getting older makes one over critical, but I did not think that the playing here was outstanding, especially as it was advertised as showcasing Scotland’s best players.  There is no question that the pipers were all technically very good, but I felt there was not as high a standard of musical expression as I had expected or hoped, and though the contest…

Ceol Mor Expert Disappointed at the Standard of Piobaireachd Playing at Major Contests

By Jimmy McIntosh MBE I do not usually get to listen to the piping programmes from Scotland but was fortunate to hear some of the competitors’ tunes from the Northern Meetings. I also recently spent several weeks in my native country and heard recordings from Lorient Piobaireachd and also the Piping Centre Masters contest. I was quite disappointed with the standard of what I heard. I don’t know what has happened…

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Blackthorn Pipers Meeting Report

The Hasson family (Colmcille Pipe Band) were the special guest pipers and drummers at the Blackthorn Pipers Society meeting at the Discover Ulster-Scots Centre, Belfast on Wednesday 17th October, writes John Kelly. They are pictured playing on the night (above). Also taking part were Glenn Cupples (PSNI Pipe Band), John Mitchell (Quinn Memorial Pipe Band), Nathan Coburn (Ravara Pipe Band) and of course the Society’s Secretary, Grahame Harris, who introduced the…

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Lorient Festival – Scots and Irish Soloists and Bands to the Fore

John Kelly reports from the Lorient Festival Interceltique in Brittany….. Eleven pipers from Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, USA, Australia and New Zealand competed for the 38th MacCrimmon Trophy held at the Palais Des Congrés at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient on Sunday 5th August. The winner was Stuart Liddell from Scotland who received the winning trophy from Festival Director, Lisardo Lombardia (above). The eleven contestants were: Brittany: Quentin Meunier, Gwenael Le…

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Northern Ireland’s Blackthorn Pipers’ Society Meet in New Venue

The new season of Northern Ireland’s Blackthorn Pipers’ Society gatherings, previously held in Dromore, Co Down, got off to a great start last night, 21st September, in a new Belfast city centre venue, the Discover Ulster-Scots Centre in Gordon Street, writes John Kelly.  Grahame Harris, who has succeeded Andy Wilson as the Society’s Secretary, welcomed the piping enthusiasts to the new venue.  Taking part in the great evening’s craic were the main recitalist Kris Coyle…