Category: Features

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

Posted on      by     

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…

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

PP Editor’s Blog: Grampian Placings/ Roddy Ross/ BB Letter/ Piobaireachd Analysis

Posted on      by     

Patricia Grant has sent the final placings in the John Milne Fine Arts Grampian Games Association Piping League 2016. Well done to all those pipers, junior and senior, who supported these important north-east games. Patricia writes: ‘It is encouraging to see that there are new names appearing on the League placings and hopefully the efforts of the Grampian Games Association to promote all aspects of Highland games is paying off.  I know that…

More PP Editor’s Blog: Grampian Placings/ Roddy Ross/ BB Letter/ Piobaireachd Analysis

Hugh ‘Baggy’ MacMillan/ Duncan MacDiarmid/ Side Lights Review

Posted on      by     

We regret to have to report the passing of London stalwart Hugh ‘Baggy’ MacMillan and of Duncan MacDiarmid, of the Atholl Highlanders. On Hugh, Roddy Livingstone of the Scottish Piping Society of London has sent this: ‘Former SPSL President Hugh ‘Baggy’ MacMillan passed away after a short illness in Croydon University Hospital in the early hours of Wednesday 7th September. ‘He was born into a piping family, his father Malcolm…

More Hugh ‘Baggy’ MacMillan/ Duncan MacDiarmid/ Side Lights Review

Bagpipe Lung: The Definitive Report

Posted on      by     

There was much brouhaha in the national press a couple of weeks ago about the dangers to pipers from fungal spores and bacteria in their instruments. Today we publish the actual scientific findings on which these reports – some of them misleading – were based. Although the article contains a lot of medical terminology (as one would expect), we believe it is worth a proper read so that pipers fully understand, as best…

More Bagpipe Lung: The Definitive Report

Scottish Championships Underway/ Skye: Dunvegan Medal Draw

Posted on      by     

The penultimate pipe band championship of the season is underway at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton, west of Glasgow. 141 bands will compete for the Scottish Champions title in nine grades from Novice B to Grade 1. The contest concludes at 5.20pm with MacKenzie Caledonia’s performance in Grade 2. First results approximately an hour later. Get them as they are announced by joining Twitter and the RSPBA’s feed. Alternatively wait a few…

More Scottish Championships Underway/ Skye: Dunvegan Medal Draw