Northern Ireland: Bands on BBC/ Ulsters/ Belfast Tattoo/ Antrim/ Big Rab

Recently there was the return of the popular series ‘The Band’ on BBC Northern Ireland television which has three episodes and should now be available on iPlayer. The series marks USA 250 by exploring the stories of people who emigrated from Northern Ireland to America and Canada and found friendship and belonging through their passion for bands.  The series follows Danielle Hamilton Cooper from Cookstown, who emigrated to Philadelphia after…

Weekend Games: Strathpeffer, Inverkeithing, Tain

Four Highland Games were held over the weekend (it would have been six but for the cancellation of Dornoch and Nethybridge). We have already reported on Aberfeldy and below we have results from the remainder. Firstly Strathpeffer, north-west of Inverness….. John Don MacKenzie Niall Mathieson judging. Condition good in the morning but rain developed after lunch. Seven played in the Piobaireachd and eight in the light music. Piob.: 1 Gordon…

Pipe Band Commentary – Readers Have Their Say

Our readers have been exercising their keyboards covering Worlds qualifying, bands travelling to compete and various arrangements at the recent Scottish Championships…… Dave Gatcum: Perhaps it’s time to look at lower grades qualifying to compete at the Worlds. I’m not sure it’s a great thing to have lower grades playing at silly o’clock in the morning to see if they qualify – spending thousands of pounds to be told they’re…

Lorient Piping Results

The popular Festival Interceltique is held each August in Brittany, France. There are two main competitions for solo pipers. The MacCrimmon Trophy goes to the player who comes out on top after performing three different sets: Scots, Irish and Breton music. Lorient also has a piobaireachd competition. Youn Pensec has kindly supplied the 2026 results as follows: 1 Stuart LIDDELL (Scotland) 8pts  Musique écossaise1,1  Musique irlandaise  1,1  Musique bretonne 3,1 2 Nick HUDSON (USA) 17pts 2-2,…

Skye Gathering 2026 Senior Results

The annual, two-day Skye Gathering piping competitions began today (Aug 4) in Portree. Twenty-eight entered for the Dunvegan Medal contest for which pipers have to submit four MacCrimmon tunes. Previous winners are excluded and play for the Col. Jock MacDonald Clasp to the medal. The winner of the 2026 medal was Angus MacPhee (pictured above with the medal, courtesy Cailean Maclean). Angus had been second in this contest for the…