Category: Comment

St. Mary’s Anti-Communist Pipe Band and a Sojourn to Spain in Support of General Franco

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

On Monday we carried a request from a reader in Spain for information regarding the visit of an Irish band to Spain in 1937. We are grateful to Dublin-based piper Ronan Maguire for alerting us to the following information about the band and their controversial trip…… According to an article in ‘Dublin Life and Culture Magazine’ the majority of Irishmen who fought in the Spanish Civil War did so on…

More St. Mary’s Anti-Communist Pipe Band and a Sojourn to Spain in Support of General Franco

Rare Picture, Campbells of Kilberry and the Founding of the Piobaireachd Society

Posted on      by      1 Comment

Together the two individuals in the above image helped change the course of piping history. Can you guess who they are? The handsome woman on the left is Lady Elspeth Campbell, and on the right John Campbell, Kilberry. I am indebted to his great-grandson, also John, and now the Piping Steward at the Argyllshire Gathering, for forwarding the photograph from his family collection. By Robert Wallace ‘It shows Lady Elspeth…

More Rare Picture, Campbells of Kilberry and the Founding of the Piobaireachd Society

Editor’s Notebook: ‘Missing’ Majors/ Irish in Spain/ Split Stock / Wiltshire Piper/ Edinburgh Police Solos

Posted on      by      4 Comments

Thanks to the many readers who have contributed to the debate on the RSPBA’s ‘missing Majors’. I agree with much of what has been said, in particular that the Association need to be pro-active in encouraging Cowal and the All Ireland promoters to help out. They may already have been in touch, I don’t know. With only the Worlds and the Scottish secure for next summer, we should not be…

More Editor’s Notebook: ‘Missing’ Majors/ Irish in Spain/ Split Stock / Wiltshire Piper/ Edinburgh Police Solos

CLASP 11th November 2023 –  ‘Live Online’ Results

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The Grade 1 Overall winner of this competition receives an invitation to compete in a new CLASP online competition called ‘The World Amateur Solo Piping Champion of Champions’, 2024. This competition launched to celebrate 20 years of CLASP and aims to showcase the best 10 amateur solo pipers in the world using an online platform where audience members can attend. By Margaret Houlihan The competition will run in April 2024…

More CLASP 11th November 2023 –  ‘Live Online’ Results

RSPBA Chairman Speaks on ‘Major Deficit’ Facing Bands for the 2024 Season

Posted on      by      7 Comments

Kevin Reilly, Chairman of the RSPBA (above), has confirmed that ‘nothing is off the table’ in the Association’s quest to find venues for three major championships next summer. ‘If for example Cowal or the All Irelands come calling then we will consider them,’ he said. Mr Reilly was speaking after his letter to member bands this week. It outlined the difficulties the Association is facing in securing arrangements for three…

More RSPBA Chairman Speaks on ‘Major Deficit’ Facing Bands for the 2024 Season