FM make the Celtic connection again, in Glasgow
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
WORLD Champions Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band will be appearing for the third time at the Celtic Connections show in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 22nd January.
Playing on stage with them will be their train rivals for supremacy - Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band, under Pipe Major Robert Mathieson.
The concert starts at 12.30pm in the afternoon and anyone wanting more information about tickets can telephone 0141353 8000.
Finvov Pipe band had a marvellous season last year when they dominated Grade 3A, winning almost every competition including the world championship title, under the Leadership of Chris Getty.
Their performances earned them promotion to Grade 2 where they will compete with a new Pipe Major, Robert Black, at the helm as well as a new Leading Tip in the Rev. David Brown.
David, who drummed with the Pipes and Drums of the RUC, has a wealth of experience. He was part of the winning drum corps of the RUC when they featured at the top of almost every competition including winning the world championships in Grade 1.
The band has nine drummers, including David's two sons, and 12 pipers.
Chris Getty, who started piping when he was 10 years old, comes from a piping family and his father Thomas was Pipe major for 55 years in Finvoy Pipe band. Chris took over the reins of Tamlaght O'Crilly in 1987 when the band was in Grade 4B. He led them through the grades, winning the world championship in Grade 3, which earned the band promotion to Grade 2. There they had many successes, nearly always featuring in the top three places. They won the All Ireland three times as well as victory in the European championships.
He returned to Finvoy in 1999 when the band was in Grade 4B. He repeated his success story with them, bringing them up the grades until last season when they won the worlds in Grade 3A and promotion to Grade 2.
He will continue playing in the band and his wealth of experience will no doubt continue to bring much success to Finvoy.
The band hopes to appear in concert at the end of April in Ballymoney High School.
The Howard Memorial Pipe Band from Dungannon is having a concert to mark their 80th anniversary in the Armagh City Hotel on Saturday 26th March 2005 commencing at 8pm.
The concert will feature the Grade 1 St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band from Dublin under the leadership of Pipe Major Terry Tully.
This band is one of the world's premier bands and their performance last April at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle produced a unique musical 3-hour extravaganza of traditional Scottish and Irish piping and drumming.
St. Laurence O'Toole is renowned for their exciting and imaginative music, with many of the tunes written by their own Pipe Major Terry Tully. They have been the Irish Pipe Bind Association's finest ambassadors over the Last two decades and each year sees the band moving higher and higher up the success ladder.
Tickets are priced at £10 and early booking is recommended. Ticket Outlets include Cuddys Newsagents in Dungannon, David Chesney Reedmakers, Magherafelt, The Music Shop Cookstown, Altnaveigh House Newry, Beat Street Music Cullybackey and Belfast Music Supplies.
Tickets are also available from the Armagh City Hotel or from any band member. Contact is Pipe Major David Cross on 077331 61369
Fred Morrison, the well-known solo piper, will be appearing in concert on Friday 28th January in St. Sylvesters Club, Malahide. The show starts at 8.30pm and will also feature the 2004 senior All Ireland champions Alen Tully, son of Terry Tully Pipe Major of St.Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band. Tickets are available from Peter Dorman on 00353 1848 4739
Ulster Star
14/01/2005
