New Pipe Major for Upper Crossgare Band
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
GRADE 2 Upper Crossgare Pipe Band are now under the new leadership of Pipe Major William Wallace, Leading Drummer Trevor McKibben and Pipe Sergeant Mark Rodgers.
The new Pipe Major replaces Pipe Major Trevor Connor, who joined the band in 1986 and took over the demanding role of leadership in 1992.
Trevor had many success with the band leading them to win the British Championships in 1999 as well as the All Ireland title and the Ulster Championships five times.
From 1996 to 2000 they were never out of the top prizes and have always been fierce challengers in Grade 2.
Next season they will compete against newly promoted Seven Towers and Marlacoo as well as Ravara, Killeen and Cullybackey who were the main winners last season.
The first of the Northern Ireland branch meetings will be held on Saturday, 24th September in the Bridge Community Centre Lisburn commencing at 2pm.
Please note the new date for this year's Annual General Meeting, which will take place on Saturday 12th November commencing at 11am in the Bridge Community Centre, Lisburn.
The annual Piper of the Year solo competition will take place on Saturday 1st October at the Adair Arms Hotel Ballymena.
The Piobaireachd section will commence at 12.30pm with the main event starting at 7pm.
This is an invitational solo event and will feature the cream of all Ireland's top pipers.
The adjudicators will be Pipe Major Brian Donaldson from Fife and Pipe Major Chris Armstrong from the David Urquhart Travel Pipes and Drums band.
Killeen Pipe band, one of the top concert bands to perform in Ireland, will be staging their annual concert on Thursday 20th October at 8pm in the Armagh Market Place Theatre.
As well as performances from the band, including a special recital from the drummers, will be the Bawn Irish and Scottish Folk Group and the Roughan Silver Band from Co. Tyrone, who will also feature in a special performance with the host band in the Finale.
Killeen is under the leadership of Pipe Major Philip Boyce and Leading drummer Trevor McGavigan and the band was seldom out of the prizes in the 2005 season.
They won the Co. Fermanagh competition in Enniskillen in May and the 60th All Ireland championships in July competing in Grade 2.
They are much in demand as a concert band and use their many musical abilities in exciting ways to entertain the audience. This is one concert not to be missed for first class enjoyment. Tickets can be purchased from the Box Office of the Armagh Market Place Theatre on telephone 37521821.
The AGM of the Co. Fermanagh section was held recently in the Railway Hotel Enniskillen, where representatives were welcomed by President Jim Henderson.
All the office bearers were re-elected including secretary Ken Booth who has served in this post for 24 years.
Their annual section competition, which was held in Celtic Park on 28th May, was a great success in spite of the awful weather conditions, and plans are now under way for next year's event.
Thiepval Memorial Pipe Band (Convoy) are celebrating their 100th birthday this year and to commemorate this they are having a Centenary Supper Dance in Jackson's Hotel, Ballybofey on Friday 23rd September at 9.30pm. The band will be performing at this dance and there will be supper, dancing to the 'Foottappers' and a disco for the more energetic.
Ulster Star
23/09/2005
