36 THURSDAY MAY 17 2012

News Update

Email. pipebands@irishnews.com Gary McDonald

Pipe Band Digest 2012

Qualification scheme

CULTURE ministersfrom NorthernIreland and theRepublic have

hailed a new educationscheme aimed atencouraging youngsters ofall traditions to study for aqualification in piping.Caral Ni Chuilin and hersouthern counterpartDinny McGinley welcomedthe launch of theUlster-Scots FoundationCertificate in HighlandBagpiping.Developed jointly by theUlster-Scots Agency andthe Royal Scottish PipeBand Association (RSPBA)(NI) Branch), thequalification rewardsstudents who havesuccessfully demonstratedthe necessary theoreticaland practical competencesin the playing of the

practice chanter.“It’s fitting that withour strong tradition ofpiping in the north thefirst foundation certificatein piping has beendeveloped,” Ms Ni Chuilinsaid. “It’s a wonderfulopportunity for youngpeople who have aninterest in music andin piping to have theirhard work officiallyacknowledged.”Mr McGinley said: “This isa hugely welcome culturaldevelopment and Icongratulate theUlster-Scots Agency andRSPBA for taking theinitiative in promoting thepiping tradition and makingit more accessible to youngpeople.“The partnership approachthat has brought about thisdevelopment underpins the

strong cultural and musicallinks between NorthernIreland and Scotland.”At a reception atStormont’s Long Gallery,hosted by North AntrimMLA Mervyn Storey, thefirst 28 students tocomplete the pilotqualification receivedtheir certificates fromUlster-Scots Agencychairman Tom Scott andRSPBA president GeorgeUssher.The graduates were drawnfrom a number of schoolsincluding BallyvesterPrimary, Castlederg High,Clounagh Junior High,Drumlegagh Primary,Fivemiletown Primary,Fivemiletown College andNewtownstewart ModelPrimary.Several also completedtheir certificate through

attending the RSPBA (NI)Branch School.“Northern Ireland is thefirst part of the pipingworld to develop aqualification like this, andwe’re certain it will help usto recruit new people toparticipate in, and enjoy,the piping tradition,” MrUssher said.Mr Scott said: “The pipeband fraternity is a globalphenomenon, withhundreds of thousands ofenthusiasts around theworld, and the localmovement provides someof the best bandsanywhere.”Andy McGregor, who pipesin Cullybackey band, isthe piping tutor for theUlster-Scots Agency andsaid he believes theprogramme can be asuccess for years to come.

TWENTY ensembles fromNorthern Ireland and theRepublic will compete in the firstpipe band “major” of the seasonthis Saturday – the ScottishChampionships in Dumbarton.The action at Levengrove Park –round one of the Champion ofChampion series – starts at 10am,and 145 bands will come underthe scrutiny of the adjudicators.Field Marshal Montgomery fromnear Lisburn are defending theircrown in the top grade (theypipped St Laurence O’Toole fromDublin to the top spot a year ago).Closkelt, from near Rathfriland –who won grade 4B at the samevenue in 2011 under pipe majorJames Knox OBE – will have afirst crack at 4A in a major, wherethey are handily drawn to play17th of the 23 bands.The draw and timings as they

affect the travelling Irishcontingent are as follows:■ Grade 4B (heat one) – Clogher& District (10am). Grade 4B (heattwo) – Tamlaght O’Crilly (10am)■ Grade 4A – New Ross & District(11.05), Syerla & District (11.19),Tullylagan (11.54), Closkelt(12.22), St. Patrick’s Bandon(12.29).■ Grade 3B – Matt Boyd Memorial(2.43), Letterkenny & District

(2.59), Thiepval Memorial (3.15)■ Grade 3A – St Laurence O’Toolesecond band (3.06), Raffrey(3.14), Quinn Memorial (3.30),Police Service of NorthernIreland (4.26), Gortaclare (4.34)■ Grade 2 – Aughintober (12.54),Howard Memorial (2.24)■ Grade 1 – Ravara (2.20), StLaurence O’Toole (2.50), SevenTowers (3.00), Cullybackey (3.10),Field Marshal Montgomery (4.20).

Focusing on eventswhich has producedworld-class winners

First ‘major’ of season to get under wayas Scottish championships action begins

WELCOME to a brand newIrish News column focusingon pipe banding acrossIreland.Over the coming months wewill look at the growth andsuccess of the movementacross the island, at nationaland internationalcompetitions (both bands,soloists and drum majors), onconcert or festival stage andin education.Ireland has a long tradition ofproducing world championsacross the various grades ofcompetition and boasts thegreatest percentage of pipebands per square mile thananywhere on the planet, evenScotland.Pipe band musicians fromthe island have proved thattheir dedication, drive andability are truly world-class,evidenced by the fact thatthe reigning supreme worldchampions hail from Lisburn(Field Marshal Montgomeryclinched its seventh crown).Indeed the band they usurpedfor the coveted title wasSt Laurence O’Toole fromDublin, whose 2010 crowncame in their centenary year.There are more than 10,000playing members in pipebands across Ireland, arounda quarter of whom regularlycompete at competitions athome and overseas.

For the uninitiated, pipebanding in Ireland is run bytwo principal bodies – theNorthern Ireland branch of theRoyal Scottish Pipe BandAssociation (RSPBA), whichis the world-governing body ofthe movement, and the IrishPipe Band Association(IPBA).There are eight grades in all,ranging from the elite gradeone at the top end down tonovice juvenile, though in allsections the enthusiasm,commitment and passionremains the same.Contests take place onmost Saturdays between nowand the end of the summer,with the highlight being theUlster Championships inDungannon on August 4 andthe All-Ireland in Ballina,Co Mayo, on July 7.The north is also on the rotaagain to host one of the five“majors”, with the EuropeanChampionships due to takeplace at Stormont onSaturday July 28.The first of those majors isthis weekend, when theScottish Championships aredown for decision inDumbarton.This will be followed by theBritish Championships inAnnan (June 30), WorldChampionships in Glasgow(August 11) and CowalChampionships in Dunoon(August 25).

AS CORRESPONDENT of thenew Irish News Pipe BandDigest, I’ll be out and about atthe contests every Saturdayduring the summer, so there’llbe no place to hide.My day job is in businessjournalism but I’ve also writtenon pipe bands down the yearsand previously spent 10 yearsas press officer of the RSPBA,writing for various publicationsaround the world.As my surname suggests,I come from a long familytradition of bagpiping, havingjoined Banbridge Pipe Band35 years ago (I’ve been itschairman for the last 12years).Although Banbridge won’t beseen in the contest arena forthis season only due to anumber of circumstances, I willbe competing in the colours ofMoneygore Pipe Band in grade3B, swapping my moreaccustomed Wallace tartan,top right, for MacLean ofDuart, right.I’d welcome all views,brickbats and bouquets... butplease wait until after I’m out

of the competition arenabefore hassling me.

■ As this column evolveswe want to hear from you –whether you’re a bandsman orwoman, supporter, businessor even a politician.You can email me atpipebands@irishnews.com orphone 028 9033 7469.

■ STARS OFTHE FUTURE:Young recipientsof pipingcertificatespictured at areception inStormont.Included areRSPBA presidentGeorge Ussher,Ulster-ScotsAgency chairmanTom Scott, Dailminister DinnyMcGinley TD andpiping tutor AndyMcGregor, alongwith MLAsMervyn Storeyand JonathanBell

Gary McDonald

How to get in touch

■ DUMBARTONBOUND: Closkeltpipe band fromCo Down in thetuning park beforelast Saturday’scompetition inNewtownards,where they werethird in grade 4A

PICTURE:Hugh Russell