Category: Reviews

Northern Ireland Pipe Band Round Up

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All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships: The spacious grounds of Ballymena Academy were the venue for Ireland’s premier pipe band competition which took place on Saturday 1st July. The weather was ever changing but never cold. The popularity and importance of this competition to the pipe band fraternity on the island of Ireland was illustrated by a large attendance as friendships were made or renewed around the arenas and tuning areas. The variable…

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The Life and Death of Gold Medallist and Military Hero – P/M William Mackie

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Last week we reported correspondence from Mrs Rhonda Whitmarsh-Knight who was trying to trace photographs and information about her Gold Medal-winning grandfather, P/M William Mackie KOSB, who died fighting the Japanese in Hong Kong in 1941. PP readers responded magnificently to the challenge and we are particularly grateful to Ron Abbot, David Livingstone and Trevor Clydesdale for their input carried below. Pipe Major William Keith Craigie Mackie was born in Edinburgh…

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Mallaig & Morar and Dundonald Games Results

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A lovely, warm, sunny day in the West Highlands yesterday (Aug. 6) for the Mallaig & Morar Games. Champion Piper was Angus MacPhee with Sandy Cameron winning the Piobaireachd. Fifteen entered. Piob1 Sandy Cameron, Earl of Ross’s March 2 Angus MacPhee, I Got a Kiss of the King’s Hand3 Eireann Ianetta-MacKay, Lament for the Iolaire4 Kyle Cameron, Farewell to the Laird of Islay  March1 Angus MacPhee2 Finlay Cameron3 Piers Dover4…

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Editor’s Notebook: 100 Pipers Band/ Results Mix Up/ PS Recital/ Piper Wanted/ Gold Medal Hero

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Reader Gordon Smith: ‘I’ve sent you an old picture of the 100 Pipers Whisky pipe band taken outside a Chivas factory building in Paisley. I’m not sure if it’s a thread you would pursue. Pipe Major was the late Donnie Thomson, ex-Shotts, far left of pic. Leading drummer Alan Craig far right, with well known bass drummer Ian Macmillan in back row.’ Thanks very much for that Gordon. Would any…

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Scottish Pipe Band Championships 2023 Review

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I had long advocated for a change in the siting of the competition arenas at Dumbarton, so there was some satisfaction in discovering just that. No longer are the bands exposed to the full, raw blast from the Clyde estuary. Now they are snuggled away in Levengrove Park’s pleasant greenery, well protected from the elements.  The only disadvantage to the new Grade 1 circle is that the final tuning area…

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