Category: Pipe Music

Rankin Pipers Memorial Cairn Unveiled on Mull

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Kilbrennan on the island of Mull is the place where the Rankin pipers lived and taught the pipes from around 1700 to 1800. They had their own College of Piping where someone could live and learn, staying until they mastered the art. The Clan Maclean Heritage Trust erected the cairn pictured above in memory of these Rankin pipers. The Rankins are affiliated to the Clan Maclean and were, in their…

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Our Juggernaut Pipe Bands – Are They a Good Thing?

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The two hot topics of the pipe band winter have been the major championships and band sizes. The first is now settled with a final announcement on the forth and fifth majors expected from the RSPBA on Monday. The second continues, with PP readers to the fore as witnessed yesterday in the letter from David Cross, Northern Ireland. In response….. Eric McGaw: I agree with some things that David has…

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Editor’s Notebook: Pipe Band Championships/ AKQ Draw Update/ Tune Search/ Northern Meeting/ Metro Cup

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‘Missing Majors’ no more. My information is that we will have a full complement of pipe band championships for the 2024 season. Final contract details will be concluded next week. Already confirmed are the Worlds, Glasgow Green, August 16/17, Scottish, Dumbarton, July 27, Europeans, Perth, August 11. I can’t say more about the British or the UKs, but the ink is almost dry. They will be in May and June….

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RSPBA Chairman Confirms Major Championships

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As reported in Piping Press two days ago, the RSPBA have announced significant progress in securing the ‘missing’ three major pipe band championships for the 2024 season. In a letter headlined ‘Update on 2024 Major Championships‘ and sent to bands last night, Chairman Kevin Reilly writes: ‘Dear Bands, Over the last 12 months we have reached out to over 100 contacts that included councils, private entities and individuals with regards…

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RSPBA Chief Executive Standing Down But Good News Coming on Majors/ John Hughes Funeral

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Colin Mulhern, Chief Executive of the RSPBA, has tendered his resignation after only four years. However, Mr Mulhern has agreed to stay on in his job until a replacement can be found. The news is a blow to the Association coming as it does on top of the sudden death of Vice Chairman John Hughes only two weeks ago*. By the Editor But the good news for the bands, and…

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