Category: Solo Piping

Sheriff Grant’s Copy of Thomason’s ‘Ceol Mor’

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I was very interested to read the articles on General Thomason’s ‘Ceol Mor’. When I came to Aberdeen at the raw age of 21, I had no knowledge of it. The only piobaireachd books I had heard of were the Kilberry Book and William Ross’s, an old copy of which we had in the family home. I now have a copy of ‘Ceol Mor’ which once belonged to Sheriff Grant…

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News from Across the Water: Terry Tully Audience/ King’s Honours/ Drum Majors to Canada/ 75th Anniversaries/ Tribute Band/ Leinster Solos

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Irvine Memorial are delighted to be able to bring the renowned piper and former Pipe Major of St Laurence O’Toole, Terry Tully, to the Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone. on 7th February for another ‘Audience With’ event. In addition, there will be performances by Stephen Creighton, leading drummer of the current World Champion drum corps, and P/Sgt. and Northern Ireland man, Brendan Murphy. The evening will take the form of previous…

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Editor’s Notebook: College Band 1953/ Cancale Video/ Scots Guards KO/ Malcolm Ferguson Contact request

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Interesting response to Allan Hamilton’s comment on Dolina MacKay and her son Evan. Allan wrote: ‘Evan MacKay, a prominent pupil of the College of Piping in the ’50/’60s. Quite a character too. Attended Woodside Academy [Glasgow] and always dressed in the kilt. All the time. In his 20s he joined the Army for a week and decided it wasn’t for him. He joined Glasgow Police …. before joining Hong Kong…

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John Scott, Dolina MacKay and the Scottish Pipers

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Logan Tannock, President of the Scottish Pipers’ Association: ‘Thank you for the stories on John Scott. They brought back memories of my early days at the SPA club nights at the Dorchester Hotel. I remember John, Captain Alex Fraser and Dolina MacKay, and yes I remember the Thow drones and how sweet they sounded. ‘John was always willing to offer advice to me as a young player, or indeed any…

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History: A Tribute to General CS Thomason Part 2

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Major General CS Thomason was one of the great figures in piping at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. His 400-page work ‘Ceol Mor’ paved the way for the formation of the Piobaireachd Society and its seminal collection of Books 1-16. We continue with the report from the Oban Times of July 10, 1909, of a dinner given in the Major General’s honour in Edinburgh…

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