Atholl Gathering 2024 First Results

The Atholl Gathering was held today (May 26) in the grounds of Blair Castle, Perthshire. Seventy-eight solo pipers, junior and senior, competed meaning an early 9.30am start and a late finish. There were graded senior contests for piobaireachd. Light music events for March, Strathspey and Reel and Hornpipe & Jig were open. The ceòl beag was split into four heats with four pipers in each progressing to the final. Three…

Editor’s Notebook: Worlds Tickets/ ‘Wee’ Donald MacLean/ Atholl Gathering

A few comments on yesterday’s story about ticket prices for the Worlds. This from Donald McRae: ‘The price of tickets for children (under 16) is depressing, the price for a Saturday ticket being £17 or only £5.50 less than that for an adult. ‘I would expect such a ticket to be lower, possibly around 50% of the adult price. Should Glasgow Life not be encouraging youngsters to engage with the…

Northern Ireland News: Ravara Concert Review/ Richard Parkes Masterclass/ County Down Results

The Lagan Valley Island Centre in Lisburn City was packed to capacity on Saturday, April 27th, the audience eager to hear Ravara Pipe Band ‘Live in Concert’. Those who attended were not disappointed. David Scott fulfilled the role of compere in his usual inimitable style. P/M Samuel Connolly’s band consisted of up to 22 pipers who were supported by D/S Matthew Shaw’s corps of 12 sides, six tenors and a…

Editor’s Notebook: Highland Games/ SG KO Final Cancelled/ Angus MacKay Cairn/ Voice Returns/ Shotts Success/ Painter’s Piper

A report in the Sunday Times newspaper last weekend bemoaned what they saw as a decline in our Highland games. In particular they mentioned Cowal which they said could not come close these days to the 40,000 crowds it used to attract. What they failed to mention was the fact that Dunoon was no longer a pipe band championship and as such automatically cut out up to 150 pipe bands…

Results from Ontario’s Livingstone Invitational

The 45th annual Livingstone Invitational professional solo piping competition was held on May 11 at the historic James Street Armouries in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in the Officers’ Mess of The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada. The event was presented in two sections with a piobaireachd competition in the afternoon (each competitor to submit four tunes) and a march, strathspey, reel, hornpipe and jig of player’s own choice in the evening. …