Category: Comment

RSPBA Writes to All Bands Regarding 2024 Major Championships and the Editor Responds

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A letter to all bands issued yesterday by Mr Kevin Reilly, Chairman of the RSPBA, confirms that so far only two major championships have been secured for the 2024 pipe band competition season. The letter follows a Board of Directors meeting last weekend. The letter reads: To the members of the RSPBA….I said I would get a message to you as soon as it became clearer to the Board of…

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Northern Ireland News: Boghall to Headline Concert/ Bands Recruiting/ Ravara Concert/ James Frazer Outstanding at Blackthorn

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World Champions Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate are to headline the ‘Kids with Cancer Charity’ concert on Saturday, 24th March 2024, in the Royal Hotel, Cookstown. The band, under the leadership of Pipe Major Ross Harvey and Leading Drummer Kerr McQuillan, World Solo Drumming Champion, have agreed to return to Northern Ireland for the first time in over a decade. I would expect a full house to see this outstanding…

More Northern Ireland News: Boghall to Headline Concert/ Bands Recruiting/ Ravara Concert/ James Frazer Outstanding at Blackthorn

History: A Look Back 30 Years to Piping on Canada’s West Coast

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The following is from the British Columbia Pipers’ Society Newsletter of December 1992…. Jack Lee Brings Home the Bratach Gorm….On Saturday, November 7th, Jack won the prestigious Bratach Gorm in London, England. Competing against 11 Scots and one other Canadian, he brought the banner to Canada for the very first time. He played the piobaireachd Lord Lovat’s Lament, that memorable tribute to Simon Fraser of the ’45. Jack’s great win,…

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Northern Ireland News: James Frazer is Piper of the Year/ NI Pipers’ Solo Success/ New Band for Dromara

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The annual NI Piper of the Year solo piping competition took place recently at the Adair Arms, Ballymena, and was organised by the Northern Ireland Piping Society. The Society has been in existence since 1978 it promotes the ‘Piper of the Year’ title through an open competition in which senior and junior players compete together. Originally a three-legged competition it changed to a single event with a Piobaireachd section being…

More Northern Ireland News: James Frazer is Piper of the Year/ NI Pipers’ Solo Success/ New Band for Dromara

Editor’s Notebook: Peter MacFarquhar/ Joint Committee/ J MacDonald Chanter/ Solo Drumming

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Reader Lawrence Macduff has forwarded this fine picture of Peter MacFarquhar, subject of our earlier story, and well known to pipers as the composer of the popular jig, Kenny Gillies of Portnalong. Lawrence writes: ‘Here’s the image of Peter and his second wife Jean, taken as I recall near Kensaleyre on July 4th, 1970, when I was visiting them at their home. ‘Peter, having retired from seafaring around 1969 (I…

More Editor’s Notebook: Peter MacFarquhar/ Joint Committee/ J MacDonald Chanter/ Solo Drumming