Category: Features

The Fints and the Armstrong – Irish Bands Who Crossed the Divide

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Piping Press recently published an album cover of a recording made by the famous Fintan Lalor Pipe Band from Dublin when under the direction of P/M Tim Keogh. We asked if PP readers could help us identify the personnel in the historic photograph. Grateful thanks to senior pipe band adjudicator P/M Harry Stevenson and to Mrs Anne Mordaunt for responding to our request….. By P/M Harry Stevenson, RSPBA Adjudicator I…

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PP Ed’s Blog: Judging Pupils/ Craig’s Book/Piob Concert/ Inverness Recital/ Black Watch Book

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At risk of boring everyone rigid, myself included, I repeat again that I do not have any problem with suitably qualified individuals being part of a judging bench when they have a student playing provided the usual declaration of interest is observed. Senior pipers must judge AND teach if we are to keep producing our Gordon Walkers, our Stuart Liddells, the Angus MacColls.  However, it sticks in the craw rather…

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Closkelt Continue on Victorious Way at the Mid Ulsters

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Report and results by Andrew Cromie  Pics by Brian Hasson, Norman Bell and Alan Cupples Closkelt continued their magnificent start to the 2018 pipe band season with another dominant performance, this time at the Mid Ulster Pipe Band Championships held last Saturday, June 2.  Cookstown High School provided the venue but it was the Co Down band that was the toast of Co Tyrone on a fine day with lots…

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Happiness for Helen and Darach at Piping’s Wedding of the Year

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And so it came to pass that there we were midst the mightily magnificent grandeur of Glasgow Cathedral. The organ thundered the ‘Bridal Chorus’ from Wagner’s Lohengrin, necks craned, eyes dampened and into our vision stepped a beautiful bride gracefully leaving her father to take her place beside her intended. This was piping’s Wedding of the Year, the union of Darach Urquhart and Helen Wilkinson. The warmth of the June day…

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PP Ed’s Blog: More on Renfrew/ Ian McLellan/ CLASP/ Weekend Contests/ SPA/ Drummers

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P/M Ian McLellan (left) has identified many of the pipers and drummers in the above photo of his old band, Renfrew. The band is pictured in 1956 under P/M Tommy Shearer. Standing (l-r) are P/M Shearer, Fleming McAlpine, Alex Clapperton (ex-214 BB), Alex Buchanan, Ian McLellan, David Elder, ? Moffat, ?, Jimmy Healy. In front we have (l-r) Billy Cowan, L/D Alex Healy, ?, Billy Proctor, Alan Just, Ronnie Kinloch…

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