Field Marshal piper takes All Ireland title
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
THE All Ireland Solos took place recently in Trinity
Comprehensive School, Ballymun, Dublin, where 100 pipers and 83 drummers
competed to take the coveted prize of champion of Ireland.
In the senior drumming grade Stephen Creighton from St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band retained his championship title. Challenging him all the way though was Steven McWhirter who has just finished a very successful season as Leading Tip of the Grade 2 Inverary & District Pipe band. He took runner up place with Christopher McNicholl from Strathclyde Police in third place.
The senior piping grade featured many of the top pipers from Ireland and this was won by Jonathan Greenlees from Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band. He defeated Alen Tully from St. Laurence O'Toole, and the 2008 senior piping champion Andrew Carlisle, into second and third place.
Intermediate piping champion was Derek Boyce, Pipe Sergeant with Killeen Pipe Band, and the intermediate drumming champion was Ian Lawson from the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.
There is a meeting of the Northern Ireland branch of the RSPBA on Saturday October 31 commencing at 2 pm, in the Trinity Methodist Church Hall, Knockmore Road, Lisburn. These meetings give band representatives the opportunity to discuss any issues or concerns regarding contests, playing requirements etc. and provide opportunities for changes to be made.
The Northern Ireland Piping and Drumming School commenced their teaching classes for piping and drumming on Saturday September 26.
They will take place every Saturday at 10.00am in three venues - Laurelhill Community College Lisburn, the Ebrington Centre Londonderry and Erne Integrated College Enniskillen, and run through to March 2009. Contact the Piping and Drumming School on 9262 8591 for further details on all centres.
The 2009 World Solo Drumming Championships will be held on October 24 at the Glasgow Caledonia University, Glasgow.
Entry forms need to be sent to the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, 45 Washington Street Glasgow, G3 8AZ.
The Annual General Meeting of the Northern Ireland branch of the RSPBA will be held on November 14th, the second Saturday of November, and not November 7 as published in the Officials & Programme of Events 2009.
Results All Ireland Solos
Juvenile Piping Under 14 - 1st. Scott Barr (Ravara). 2nd. Matthew Johnston (Bellaghy) 3rd. Laura Campbell (Bellaghy)
Juvenile Piping Under 16 - 1st. Elaine Stone (De La Salle Waterford). 2nd. Neil Badger (Seven Towers). 3rd. A.Kinley (Moneygore)
Junior Piping - 1st. Caitlin Houlihan (Cullen). 2nd. Laura McMillan (Inverary & District). 3rd. Ross Hume. (Cullybackey).
Intermediate - 1st. Derek Boyce (Killeen). 2nd. Emmett Conway (EM. Montgomery). 3rd. Scott Wallace (Ballycoan).
Senior Piping - 1st. Jonathan Greenlees (F. M. Montgomery). 2nd. Alen Tully (St.L.O'Toole) 3rd .Andrew Carlisle (EM. Montgomery)
Piobaireachd B - 1st. Kevin Rogers (St. L. O'Toole). 2nd. Rachel Corr (St. L. O'Toole). 3rd Scott Barr (Ravara).
Piobaireachd A - 1st. Andrew Carlisle (F. M. Montgomery). 2nd. Jonathan Greenlees (EM. Montgomery). 3rd. Emmett Conway (F. M. Montgomery).
Juvenile Drumming Under 14 - 1st. Dean Smyth (Cullybackey). 2nd. John Herron (Gransha). 3rd. Mark Kinley (Moneygore).
Juvenile Drumming Under 16 - 1st. Grant Cassidy (House of Edgar Shotts). 2nd. Blake McVeigh (Gransha). 3rd. Graham McMillan (Inverary & District)
Junior Drumming - 1st. Gus Sicard (Inverary). 2nd. Cameron Ward (Strathclyde Police). 3rd. Gareth McLees (F. M. Montgomery).
Intermediate Drumming - 1st. Ian Lawson (Simon Fraser). 2nd. Jason Hoy (Cullybackey). 3rd. Paul Brown (St. L. O'Toole)
Senior Drumming - 1st. Stephen Creighton (St. L. O'Toole). 2nd. Steven McWhirter (Inverary). 3rd. Christopher McNicholl (Strathclyde Police)
Ulster Star
02/10/2009
