Category: Pipe Bands

Her Majesty The Queen

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As pipers we will add to the tide of grief, mourning, and gratitude that has followed the death of HM The Queen. For every day of her domestic life she rose to the sound of our national instrument. She appointed thirteen different Sovereign’s Pipers during her 70-year reign. They attest to her knowledge of the tunes, and woe betide those guilty of lazy repeats. By The Editor In her support…

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Northern Ireland Round-Up: Belfast Tattoo/ Pipe Band College/ World Solo Drumming/ Blackthorn/ All Irelands

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After two years absence, the Belfast International Tattoo finally returned on September 2nd and 3rd with three shows at the SSE Arena. The cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 shows placed many challenges at the door of the organisers. I was present on the Saturday night when there was a very good attendance and I understand that was the case across the other two shows. This has obviously encouraged the…

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Northern Ireland Pipe Band Round – Up: Part 1

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The second half of the Northern Ireland competition season got underway with the Ulster Championships on July 23rd in the grounds of Ballymena Academy. It proved to be a very successful event with a large crowd and decent weather except for a heavy shower mid-afternoon. There were thirty one band entries and twenty six drum majors. A Highland dancing competition was also in full swing throughout the day such is…

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How to Maximise the Commercial Potential of the World Pipe Band Championship Grade 1

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Following our recent articles on the Worlds 2022, these social media responses are worth repeating. The first is from from reader Mark Christy: In past years I too was annoyed by the inability to hear the Grade 1 bands. Indeed the free seat location was far better than the paid seat. The RSPBA should have a study of the professional production down the road. At the Edinburgh Tattoo it’s all…

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Why I Won’t Sit in the Stands at the Worlds Again

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Fistly I want to say thanks to Alistair Aitken for his reports from the 2022 Worlds. They are always respectful, well researched and authoritative. I was interested in his comment: ‘Perhaps strangely, most of the spectators preferred to stand or sit around the competing band arenas.’ By Iain White I can give some personal insight. I have attended the Worlds for as long as I can remember with my two…

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