‘This way that way, forward and back and over the Irish Sea.A bottle of rum to fill my tum and that’s the life for me.’ Dear Reader, By the time you are cantering through this piece I will most likely be bobbing around on a floating piece of metal in the midst of the crossing from auld Scotia to Ulster, writes MacStig. The physics of heavy metal floating on salt…

The terrorist atrocity in Sri Lanka a couple of months back postponed the scheduled meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This meant that the planned dispensation for bagpipes and other African blackwood instruments will have to wait a few months more. It had been proposed that the meeting would agree a proposal that finished instruments would henceforth be considered exempt from costly licences and paperwork….

By The Editor We’re a few days out from the next pipe band major, the UKs at Lurgan, Northern Ireland. Prior to the British at Paisley there was considerable huffing and pufffing over the various streaming services that position themselves around the Grade 1 arena. Armed with fancy tripods and some pretty hi-tech equipment (as far as I can judge) they do a good job of bringing the music and…

Last Saturday (June 8) the Civil Service Grounds at Stormont were the venue for the Belfast Pipe Band Championships on what was a dull day with the light rain only coming for the closing stages. There was an entry of thirty five bands and drum majors watched by a good attendance of spectators which looked smaller due mainly to the large but immaculately kept grounds on which the competitions took…

Tom Johnstone SPA President: ‘Not a great turnout again last night [Saturday, June 8]. Callum Beaumont won by the narrowest of margins over Cameron MacDougall. Both players played exceptionally well and managed to fit some piobaireachd into their selections. ‘Next heat is Sept 7th when Sarah Muir vs Steven Leask. The venue will again by the National Piping Centre, Otago Street. All welcome.’Tom is pictured with Cameron (l) and Callum…