Brittany’s ‘Pibroch by the Sea’/ New Raasay Competition

Blustery wet weather did nothing to dampen enthusiasm at Brittany’s 20th annual celebration of ceòl mòr, ‘Pibroc’h en Bord de Mer’, held on its north coast on 7th/8th September, writes Dr Jack Taylor. While colleagues battled it out at Braemar and Blairgowrie, players from Brittany and beyond enjoyed playing and hearing the great music just for the sake of it with not a judge in sight. Every performance was greeted…

Review: Braemar Gold Medal 2024

It is seldom that we assemble for breakfast at Braemar the pavilion filled with chat about sun cream. Yet that was the pleasant concern abroad as we judges met for our morning repast. Blue skies, hot sun, pine tree shade, mountain air… and the prospect of some excellent pipe music put a zest into the bacon and eggs and a spring into the heels as we made our way to…

Editor’s Notebook: Piobaireachd Champions/ Joe Noble’s Funeral/ Scots Guards KO Draw/ Kilberry Castle/ Balmoral Classic/ Games Round-Up

All congratulations to Alasdair Henderson and Nick Hudson, pictured above, on winning the two major piobaireachd awards of the summer, the Senior Piobaireachd at Oban and the Clasp at Inverness. Both are first time champions at this level. Why are these the highest ceòl mòr awards in world piping? The tunes are from a set list of the most difficult in the canon, your chosen piece is given only 20…

News from Across the Water: SLOT win All Irelands/ Tribute Band/ September Solos

From early morning pipe bands and spectators from home and abroad descended on the grounds of  Newbridge House, Donabate, County Dublin, for the All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships – and what a great day of musical entertainment and competition it was. Grade 1 is always a tight affair, and this year was no different. St Laurence O’Toole took the early initiative by winning the MSR, giving them a two point lead. Despite Field…

North Games Champion Receives the Glass Chanter

Champion Piper at the North of Scotland’s Highland Games 2024 is Angus MacPhee, Inverness. He was presented with the new Glass Chanter Trophy and a cheque during a break at last week’s Northern Meeting. The new perpetual trophy, inscribed ‘Champion Piper, North Highland Games Circuit’, replaces an earlier version which has gone missing. Angus said: ‘I am very honoured to have won the Glass Chanter this year. I have always…