Piping Press

On Thursday past the Northern Ireland Pipe Band community was stunned when news filtered through of the tragic death of 17-year-old Drum Major Rachel Lowry in a traffic accident which occurred near Markethill, County Armagh. Rachel was studying Health and Social Care at the Southern Regional College’s Armagh Campus having achieved excellent GCSE results at her local Markethill High School.  A rising star, Rachel was one of a growing number…

Ross Millar, Secretary, reports….The results of the joint A&P Grade round of the CPA Online Competition are below. The winners have given permission for their winning tunes to be broadcast [see below]. A&P Grade Piobaireachd – 10 competed1st Ben McClamrock (Ronald MacDonald of Morar’s Lament) 2nd Sandy Cameron (Blind Piper’s Obstinacy)3rd Ian K. MacDonald (The Unjust Incarceration)4th Alex Gandy (Edinburgh Piobaireachd)5th James MacHattie (In Praise of Morag) A&P Grade MSR…

I’m selling my set of Inveran pipes, writes Iain Marshall, Oban. The pipes were were hand made around 2012 in the workshop of master craftsman P/M Brian Donaldson. They feature African blackwood, imitation ivory projecting mounts, hand-engraved Sterling silver slides, ferrules and ring caps and are presently fitted with a Canmore bag with a moisture control system inside. This is a fantastic sounding set of drones, which would be an…

Firstly today, can anyone name the Pipe Mjor pictured above? He was P/M of a police band, a well known solo piper and winner of many top awards. He also produced a book of tunes and composed a few good ones himself. The man in question had roots in South Uist. Read on for the answer….. Thanks to the reader who reminded me of one crucial aspect of the new…