Category: News

Northern Ireland News: Bangor Welcomes the UKs/ St Mary’s/ Ardmore Cup/ RSPBA Regradings

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The official launch of the first RSPBA Major contest of 2024, the United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships, took place recently in Bangor. The contest is on Saturday, 18 May, at Ward Park, Arras, Bangor. The RSPBA Northern Ireland branch are hosting the event in partnership with Ards and North Down Borough Council. The Championships will feature some 1,500 musicians in 75 bands. At the launch, Mayor Jennifer Gilmour, said: ‘Ards…

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Recordings of P/M RG Hardie from 50 Years Ago

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We are very grateful to Jim Barrie in western Canada for forwarding these recordings of Bob Hardie playing at an impromptu recital at the Coeur d’Alene Summer School in Idaho in the early 1970s. Bob went there on several occasions at the invite of the Principal Col. John McEwing and taught with the likes of Andrew Wright, John Wilson, Toronto, John MacAskill, and on one occasion, James Campbell. Bob is…

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Ulster Solos and Games Updates

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The Ulster Solo Piping & Drumming Championships 2024, were held on Saturday 13 April in Lisnagarvey High School, Lisburn. Run by the RSPBA Northern Ireland Branch, the solos attracted a large entry. Piping Champion for 2024 was Ashley McMichael of Field Marshal Montgomery, with runner up Kris Coyle from the same band. Ashley and Kris are pictured above. Results:Piobaireachd: 1 Ashley McMichael 2 Kris Coyle 3 Scott McKay (Scottish Power)…

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Alistair G Hanning 1962-2024

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After a long hard-fought battle with cancer, Alistair passed away on 9 April aged 62. He was born in Wellington, New Zealand, into the famous Hanning piping family.  Taught by his father, Oban Gold Medallist John, he showed prodigious talent from an early age and was playing and winning prizes in open competition from the age of 16. His talent was further evidenced by the one and only time he competed solo in Scotland in 1980 while participating in the…

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Editor’s Notebook: 100 Years of PS Books/ Jimmy McIntosh Scholarship/ Piping Festival

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One hundred years ago, in a large house in the Cairngorm woods, the finishing touches were being put to a book which was to alter the course of piping history. Sheriff Iain Grant, Music Committee Secretary for the Piobaireachd Society, was preparing to send off to the printer the first edition of Book 1 in its new collection. This was the Society’s second go at putting together a selection of…

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