Category: History

History: The ‘Redundant A’ Debate of 100 Years Ago

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

What is the ‘redundant A’ ? Whole generations have come and gone since the controversy was aired on the pages of the Oban Times a century ago. The correspondence reached its apogee in 1926 with none other than the great GS McLennan weighing in. We run a series of letters to the newspaper, including his, beginning today. By The Editor Firstly we need to establish what the cause of all…

More History: The ‘Redundant A’ Debate of 100 Years Ago

Kingdom Thistle Results/ Wheel of Fortune/ CLASP Chanters

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

The Dundee, Perth and Angus Branch of the RSPBA ran their ‘Kingdom Thistle European Solo Piping Contest’ last Saturday in Fife. The competition attracted a large entry. The senior piping was split into two categories, piobaireachd and a combined MSR and Hornpipe & Jig. The RSPBA placing system was used to determine the outcome of the latter. Piobaireachd: 1 Dan Nevans, Shotts 2 John Dew, Inveraray 3 Ian Simpson, (formerly…

More Kingdom Thistle Results/ Wheel of Fortune/ CLASP Chanters

Editor’s Notebook: PS Conference/ Watson’s Bursary/ SPA Entries/ Virginia Tattoo/ Band Entries

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

one of the supplementary benefits of the Piobaireachd Society conference is the time afforded for informal chats. They were happening all over the place at the Golden Lion in Stirling last weekend. One was a follow on to Michael Grey’s talk on Bill Livingstone and the great tape recording scandal. There are phones recording everything now we pondered – in the piper’s sporran as he plays, and all over the…

More Editor’s Notebook: PS Conference/ Watson’s Bursary/ SPA Entries/ Virginia Tattoo/ Band Entries

Northern Ireland News

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Ulster at the Duncan Johnstone: On Saturday 21st March a number of pipers from Northern Ireland took part in the annual Duncan Johnstone Memorial competition in Glasgow. The overall winner of the B Grade competitions was Andrew Pattison, while Scott Wallace was the Grade C winner. The B Piobaireachd was won by Rathfriland’s James Frazer who also placed fifth in the B MSR and second in the B Jig. Scott…

More Northern Ireland News

Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference

Posted on      by      Leave a comment

Well what a wonderful weekend that proved to be. The Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference is always an enjoyable mix of history, research and camaraderie, but this year at the Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling has to be rated right up there with the best.  Maybe delegates were determined to make it a roaring success following the last minute decamp from the fire-stricken Royal George in Perth. Whatever the reason, we…

More Piobaireachd Society Annual Conference