The Irish Pipe Band Association today issued the following changes regarding their pipe band contests this summer. They include the postponement of the All Ireland Championships which were going to be a showpiece celebration of the Association’s 75th Anniversary. IPBA Secretary John G Sheehan said postponed events would be kept under review to ascertain the viability of an alternative date later in the year. He then issued the following:    …

The bagpipe if not kept clean could be a source of bacteria and virus infections. There are disinfectants avaiIable, but care should be taken as they could be corrosive, writes Duncan Watson. As  a matter of interest, I have been using hydrogen peroxide for years on reeds. It kills bacteria and a little research I have read shows it can deal with viruses.  The reason that I used it was…

The PP Lockdown Challenge covers four areas of endeavour which we hope will stimulate readers’ creative sensibilities during this protracted period of confinement viz: Drawing or Painting anything with a piping or pipe band connection. Experienced artist and RSBA judge Robert Mathieson has kindly agreed to judge. P/M David Bruce is quick off the mark with this example of his work (above). David writes: ‘Did this one over the last…

Canada’s Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, one of the leading Grade 1 bands of the last 30 years, have not yet ruled out travelling over for the World Championships in August but are keeping a watching brief on Covid-19 developments. Meanwhile the band have produced a surprise new album recorded live last month. P/M Alan Bevan explains: ‘The band has been going very well this year. Last spring we made…

Following on from last year when we ran the article calling for a tune for the annual Commando Speed March, we can now report that it was held last Saturday and two of our top young pipers, Sandy and Finlay Cameron, were invited to participate with various spells of piping. In the picture above they can be seen marching the runners from their Assembly Point to the start line at…