Highlands & Islands Festival Draws and Judges Announced

Piping Convenor Iain Hurst has announced details of the important Highlands & islands Festival senior piping competitions to be held in Oban High School this Saturday, May 4. Sponsors included the Piobaireachd Society, RG Hardie & Co, McCallum Bagpipes and the Competing Pipers’ Association. There have been several withdrawals; the lists below are accurate as of today, May 2. Organisers are the Netherlorn Piping Society. P/A Ceol Mor (9am, four…

Editor’s Notebook: 2/4 March Tempos/ Alastair MacQueen/ Bangor BB/ Pipe Band Gradings

Further to my comment about the slow playing of 2/4 marches, and concerned that I was talking out of turn, I had a listen to a recording I made back in 1982. The tempo is more or less the same as Hugh MacInnes‘s. The tunes are Highland Wedding and Jeannie Carruthers: I then had a listen to a selection of marches from the PP archive and they all confirmed that…

Set of Silver Naill Pipes for Sale/ Victoria Piping Results

Seller Katrina Harris: I am selling a high quality set of pipes by David Naill and Co. They are the DN4A model, African Blackwood, fully combed and beaded with imitation ivory projecting mounts and hallmarked Sterling silver ferrules, slides and ring caps. The set also has closed end ferrules on the centre and top joints, and a full plain solid silver mouthpiece. They were my brother’s but he can now no longer play after…

St Laurence O’Toole Ready to Thrill North East Concert Audience/ Jimmy McIntosh Challenge Contest

St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band, from Dublin, are in concert in Aberdeen on Saturday evening, April 27. Entitled ‘Inspired 2024’, the concert marks the return of this sort of gala occasion to north east Scotland, hosted, as before, by the local Bucksburn & District band. SLOT are one of the World’s top outfits, and are generally recognised as an outstanding concert band noted for their innovative approach and inherent musicality. The…

Northern Ireland News: Ulster Championships Blow/ Bereavements/ Blackthorn/ Irvine Mini Bands/ Leinster Contest

The RSPBANI Executive has announced that Mid & East Antrim Council has withdrawn funding for the Ulster Championships, due to take place at Ballymena Academy on the 3rd August.  RSPBANI Branch Chairman Alastair Patterson expressed the disappointment of the Branch whilst fully understanding the funding difficulties within councils. The Branch is appealing to bands people and their supporters in Mid & East Antrim to speak with their councillors to ensure…