Record entry for All Irelands
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
A VERY successful All Ireland Piping and Drumming solos championship was held last Saturday in Banbridge High School.
Indeed this had the biggest ever entry of competitors from both North and South of Ireland and much credit must go to Mervyn Herron and his team for their excellent organisation of this event.
A new chapter was written in the history of the All Ireland championships when both senior titles went to the South of Ireland for the first time.
Alen Tully from St.Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band, who is the son of its Pipe Major Terry Tully, himself a former All Ireland senior champion, won the coveted piping title for the first time.
This was a great victory for Alen, which must have really pleased his Dad.
The other St.Laurence O'Toole winner was Steve Creighton who took the senior drumming championship title.
Jonathan Greenlees was the winner of the Piobaireachd with Gareth Rudolph from England taking the Intermediate piping section.
Steven McWhirter won the Intermediate drumming grade and Ian Lawson the junior.
The next branch meeting of the RSPBA will be held on Saturday 25th September 2004 at 2 pm in the Bridge Community Centre, Lisburn.
The 54th Annual General Meeting of the Northern Ireland Branch will be held in the Bridge Community Centre on Saturday 9th October at 10.30am for I lam start. All bands are urged to be represented as it is really for their own benefit to have their views and ideas discussed at this important meeting.
The annual Piper of the Year invitational solo competition will be held on Saturday 2nd October in the Adair Arms Hotel, Ballymena starting at 7pm.
The adjudicators are Pipe Major Ronnie Lawrie, formerly from the Glasgow Police Pipe band, and Pipe Major Gordon Walker of the 52nd Lowland Regiment Glasgow.
Both these men are renowned all over the world for their excellent solo performances, and hopefully one - or both - will give a recital at the close. This is something not to be missed.
The Ulster Youth Ensemble Project is seeking to recruit pipers, drummers and dancers within the 1225 years old group from rural areas who have already achieved a fair degree of competence within their respective fields of expertise.
Prospective candidates for the Ensemble will be assessed in terms of their commitment to the Project and their ability to adapt to playing within a versatile repertoire, which will go beyond the normal pipe band requirements.
This is a challenging project requiring imagination and vision. It is expected the Ensemble will perform at prestigious events throughout Ireland and further afield.
Please contact Sam Bailie, Director at the Northern Ireland and Piping School, on 90485436.
The officers and members of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association-Northern Ireland Branch- are saddened to learn of the passing of Mrs Catherine (Kate) Shaw, wife of Senior Drum Major Cecil Shaw. Deepest sympathy is extended to Cecil and all the family.
Results of All Ireland Solos
Piobaireachd. 1st Jonathan Greenlees, 2nd Andrew Carlisle, 3rd S. MacLeod
Senior Piping. 1stAlen Tully. 2nd Amos Gilmore. 3rd Mark Faloon.
Intermediate. 1st Gareth Rudolph. 2nd Glenn Cupples.
Juvenile U14. 1st Mark Culleton. 2nd Jemma Redmond. 3rd J. Lamberton
Juvenile U16. 1st David Stone. 2nd Caithain Houlihan. 3rd Chris Earls.
Junior. Ist S. MacLeod. 2nd Andrew Shilliday. 3rd Michele Redmond.
Senior Drumming. 1st Steve Creighton. 2nd B. Megoran. Joint 3rd Adrian Hoy &Mark Wilson.
Intermediate. 1st Steven McWhirter. Joini 2nd Conor Sherry & Earl Glasgow.
Junior. 1st 1017 Lawson. 2nd N. Harvey. 3rd W. Glenholmes. Best Female Renee Thompson.
Juvenile U14. 1st Cameron Finlay. 2nd Gareth McLees. 3rd L. Reynolds.
Juvenile U16. 1st Johnathan Hoy. 2nd Mark Featherstone. 3rd 119. McKenna.
Drum Pad. Gold Certificates - Eoin O'Connell, Blake McVeigh, Connor Cooney.
Silver Certificate - John Herron and Jamie Corcett.
Ulster Star
24/09/2004
