Piping Press

Ballymena was the setting for the 74th All Ireland Pipe Band Championships which were held at the beautifully manicured and spacious grounds of the local Academy School. The fact that every car parking space was taken by lunchtime indicates what a massive attendance there was and the weather was everything you would want and at times maybe too hot for some. If the weather was hot so too was the competition…

Forres Games held were held at pretty Grant Park the venue for previous successful pipe band competitions. It was quite a nice, reasonably warm day, by all accounts. The introduction of ceol mor to the events swelled competitor numbers. Piobaireachd1 Calum Brown, the King’s Taxes2 James MacPhee, Glengarry’s March3 Angus MacPhee, Battle of Auldearn 1  March1 Calum Brown2 Robbie McIsaac3 Angus MacPhee Strathspey and Reel1 Calum Brown2 Robbie McIsaac3 Colin…

A very pleasant day on the shores of Loch Lomond, writes Robert Wallace. Low entries in all events but there were sufficient to to keep the sound of the pipes ringing on the Bonnie Banks from mid morning till late afternoon. The picture above shows Ben Mulhearn receiving the open piobaireached trophy. Ben, of Ayrshire Bagpipes, was playing his own chanter and a set of Burmese Rosewood pipes also made…

A warm pleasant day at this Fife Games. Judges for all events were Jimmy Banks and Andrew Frater. The above picture shows competitor Peter McCalister on the boards. Piobaireachd1 Darach Urquhart, Old Men of the Shells2 Andrew Hall, Earl of Ross’s March3 Jordan Ednie4 Peter McCalister, End of the Great Bridge MSR1 Darach Urquhart2 Lewis Russell3 Peter McCalister4 Andrew Hall

By Elizabeth Anne Muckle, Calgary The offering of a one hour weekly beginner bagpipe instruction course at our prestigious Conservatory of Music at Mount Royal University, Calgary, has raised a number of concerns about instructional approaches to assisting trusting enthusiasts as they begin mastering the essentials of a complex skill.  The group session, offered in the Fall 2019 from Sept. 10 to Oct. 29 will be continued in the winter…