Northern Ireland Bands on Parade

John Kelly reports: Some of Northern Ireland’s pipe bands took part in the Sham Fight parade in Scarva on Friday 13th July.  The annual Sham Fight is one of the largest cultural events in Northern Ireland’s calendar and tens of thousands of people who flocked to the event enjoyed a great day out in wall to wall sunshine. The small and quaint Co. Down village has become renowned for hosting the…

PP Ed’s Blog: Worlds Draw/ Northern Meeting/ Darach & PM Angus/ Mod Results & Reminder

I don’t think we should be giving the RSPBA a hard time over the slip up with the Worlds draw. Errors of this sort are very rare within the Association and having attended the procedure I can vouch for the considerable care and attention to detail that is gone into in trying to get everything just right. As we say in Glasgow ‘nae body’s deid’. I did think it unfortunate…

Pipe Band MSR Poll Findings and Comment Thereon

Our poll on March, Strathspey and Reels in pipe bands drew the second largest response of any we have so far conducted with hundreds of readers taking part. (The largest was on restricting band sizes.) Thanks to everyone for their valuable contribution.  The findings show that the vast majority care about the future of band MSRs, they do not want them to die, they see them as the true test…

Pipes for Sale/ MacStig on the Prowl in Canada and Ireland

A handsome looking set of silver and ivory pipes is on offer today from the PP Online Ads page. The pipes have been dated as 1920/1930 and are described as in good playing condition. They have been identified as Hendersons, a set similar to a bagpipe owned by J B Robertson dated 1926. Click here for more info. [wds id=”2″] Following Saturday’s All-Ireland and contest in Canada MacStig has sent this….. Grade 2…

All-Ireland Championships – Full Results Pictures and Report

The prestigious All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships, one of the key outings in the pipe band calendar was held in New Ross, Co Wexford on Saturday 7th July.  The championships, which rotate each year between a venue in the Republic and Northern, is organised by the Joint Association Council of the RSPBA NI Branch and the Irish Pipe Band Association.  The Chieftain of the Day was Cllr. John Fleming MCC, Mayor…