RSPBA Announce Draw for the World Pipe Band Championships

The RSPBA has completed the draw for this year’s World Pipe Band Championships. Two hundred and ten bands will compete for the main titles at Glasgow Green on August 11th and 12th. Twelve bands will go through to the final from the 20 entered for the Qualifying Heats in Grade 1. For the Friday in Grade 1 the running order of these heats is as follows: Qualifier 1 MSR 11:00…

Glasgow Skye’s Popular Worlds Week Concert And How it All Began

Without question the most important event in the week leading up to the World Pipe Band Championships is the major pipe band contest staged each year on the Wednesday by Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band. The concert, now held in Glasgow’s prestigious Royal Concert Hall, has showcased the biggest names in bands and invariably attracts a sell out crowd of 2,000+. The hall provides a spectacular backdrop for the bands…

PP Ed’s Blog: John McGregor Letter/ Scots Guards Juniors/ Highland League/ Alden Biesen

Grateful to piping historian Keith Sanger for forwarding this letter from the Blair Castle archives. It is dated 1830 and is by Perthshire piper John McGregor. It mentions his (McGregor’s) winning the prize pipe and Angus MacKay (pictured above) coming second. MacKay is intimated as piper to the Duke of Gordon which is news to me. I understood that before royal service with Queen Victoria he was with the Laird…

All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships Report and Pictures

Lurgan Park, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, once again came alive with the music of pipe bands when the prestigious All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships were held in the picturesque park for the first time on Saturday 1st July, write John Kelly and Andrew Cromie.  The championships rotate each year between a venue in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  It isnow in its 72nd year. It is one of the…

All Ireland Pipe Band Championships

Field Marshal Montgomery (pictured) made a clean sweep at the All Ireland Grade 1 Pipe Band Championship held at Lurgan, Northern Ireland, today winning both MSR & Medley. Runners up were St Laurence O’Toole from Dublin. Grade 2 went to Manorcunnigham. Get full results and summaries here. Check Piping Press later for a full report from the All Irelands. Read our report on the history of the competition here. [wds…