Category: Piobaireachd

History: Argyllshire Gathering 1981

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This article is from the Oban Times of early September 1981. It is by Alfred Morrison their piping correspondent at the time. Alfred, affectionately known as ‘old Fred’, was the father of the Gold Medallist and bellows piper supreme, ‘young’ Fred Morrison. Alfred was a native of South Uist. It was there as a young man he received his piobaireachd tuition from visiting instructor RB Nicol, one of the Bobs…

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Editor’s Notebook: Band Sizes/ Piping Centurions/ SPA Professional/ Duncan Johnstone/ CLASP Results

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I hope the RSPBA AGM devotes a good bit of time to a serious discussion on band sizes…or at least appoints a working group to examine properly the reasons for the decline in the number of pipe bands in Scotland. With only six Grade 1 bands and reductions further down the pecking order, this is not something that should be dismissed lightly under the banner ‘it’s all been tried before…

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Scottish Schools Championship/ Stirling Junior Solos

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Young musicians from a record-breaking 172 schools across Scotland gathered in Kilmarnock last Sunday for the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, marking the largest number of schools ever involved in the event’s 12-year-history, writes Lesley Wilkinson. Held at the William McIlvanney Campus, the Championships welcomed 51 bands and ten quartets from every corner of the country, with 90% of participating schools coming from the state sector. Organised by the Scottish Schools Pipes…

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Review of the 2026 Uist & Barra Professional

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Pity those who weren’t at Otago Street last Saturday for the 79th Annual Uist & Barra Professional. We heard two piobaireachd that would have won any competition anywhere – and I’m talking senior events at Oban/ Inverness – and some flowing ceòl beag that wasn’t to be sniffed at either. By Robert Wallace The two tunes I mention were from Callum Beaumont and Finlay Johnston. There wasn’t a gossamer strand…

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Uist & Barra 2026 Results (Updated)

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This competition was held today, March 7, at the Piping Centre in Otago Street, Glasgow. There was an appreciative audience throughout the day. Eleven invited pipers competed. Invitations were based on success at the major competitions in 2025. Ceòl Mòr for the Glasgow Highland Club Medal1 Finlay Johnston, £220, Donald Gruamach’s March2 Callum Beaumont, £175, My Dearest on Earth Give Me Your Kiss3 Connor Sinclair, £110, Port Urlar 4 Angus MacColl,…

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