PP Ed’s Blog: Blair Atholl/ Big Wedding/ Fintan Lalor/ Innes Smith/ Teacher Hunt

Very healthy entries for the Blair Atholl piping a week on Sunday (May 27) – at least in the seniors. Over 40 signed up across all grades. Unfortunately there are only a few forward for the under 18s and the organisers are keen to encourage as many youngsters as possible to get involved.  So if you are a junior and feel like a tune at what is effectively the first…

Dundee City – Competition Report and Grade 2 Review

Some say his para is more ‘handy’ than diddle, others that to him a good reed is a Dan Brown paperback (spelling isn’t his strong suit)… others bemoan his lack of spacial awareness as he tramps with his cromach to the isles. All we know is, he is our favourite, our number one, our very own MacStig……. Having watched the online performances at Bangor, courtesy of Big Robert (plaudits for that),…

Dundee City Results/ Dunbar/ Gourock

Dundee City contest was held today in improving weather in the east coast town. The above picture shows the contest arena outside the city’s Caird Hall. For yesterday’s Dunbar contest click here for details on George Heriot’s big win in G2. For Gourock and Inveraray’s narrow win over Scottish Power click here. Grade 4B 1 MacKenzie Caledonian Nov B 2 Coupar Angus Burgh 3 Dollar Academy Nov B Grade 4A…

FM Win First Outdoor of Season (Updated with Pictures and Full Report)

Ards & North Down Championship Story by Gilbert Cromie Pictures by John Kelly Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band from Lisburn (pictured) won the first outdoor contest of the Northern Irish pipe band season today by taking first at the Ards and North Down Championships at Bangor. The championship, the first pipe band contest of the 2018 season, was held at Castle Grounds, Bangor on Saturday 12th May.  Hosted by the…

The MacIntyre Pipers of Perthshire/ Lullaby for Iain by Captain John MacLellan

We are grateful to piping historian Keith Sanger (left) for making his detailed research on the MacIntyre family of pipers available to readers. Keith’s research shows the links the family had with the MacCrimmons and also gives us interesting background into a family which won many prizes in the early competition in Edinburgh and Falkirk and who composed such masterworks as the piobaireachd the Prince’s Salute, My King Has Landed…