Thiepval Memorial celebrate 100th anniversary
Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell
THIEPVAL Memorial Pipe band from Convoy, Co. Donegal recently celebrated their 100th anniversary with a dinner dance and disco in Jackson's Hotel Ballybofey.
There was also a fine display from their drum majors, Kiera Wilson, the 2005 Champion of Champions in her grade, Lorna Robinson, Gary Scanlon and Philip McGonigle. The drum majors are under the instruction of former world champion Paula Braiden.
The band then gave a splendid performance playing under the leadership of Pipe Major Alyson McKnight. The evening finished with music by the 'Foot Tappers', followed by a disco.
Paul De Both has stepped down from the Grade 2 Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band after 15 months as their Pipe Major.
He made this decision after lengthy
consideration and decided that this was the best course, not
only for him, but also for the band. He leaves the band in
excellent shape and knows that it will be looked after well by
the new Pipe Major Davey Goodal. He hopes to continue
helping them in any way he is able.
The band's former Pipe Major was Tom Anderson well known to Northern Ireland bands people.
The new 2006 Officials Programme of Events will be available at the first of this year's Branch meeting, which will take place on Saturday January 28 in the Bridge Community Centre in Lisburn.
This date is a must for all bands people as it gives not only the dates of this year's pipe band competitions, but also all the Officials and those involved in the Northern Ireland Branch Sections, with their addresses and their telephone numbers.
There is also some informative news on various subjects, which should prove interesting reading to pipers, drummers and drum majors.
Grade 2 Ravara led by Pipe Major Sammy Connolly will be appearing on the 'Touch of Tartan' radio broad-cast show on Sunday January 22 and which will be repeated on Wednesday after the 7 o'clock news.
The show is hosted by Tommy Millar and in this series he has been featuring some of the best pipe bands in Ireland.
The following shows have still to feature Grade 1 Ballinderry Bridge and Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe bands.
A couple of recordings of top Grade 1 bands have been on sale recently and are well worth having a listen too. The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band from Vancouver Canada released their 9th CD entitled 'On Home Ground'.
One of the world's best renowned pipe bands, and four times world champions, the CD featured some incredible piping and drumming accompanied by other Celtic instruments.
The band has performed and recorded at Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House Australia, as well as performances on stage and competition arenas around the world.
The band is under the direction of Pipe Major Terry Lee and Leading Tip Reid Maxwell.
Dublin's best-known Grade 1 pipe band, St. Laurence O'Toole, has also released their CD entitled 'The Dawning of the Day'.
The recording was made live last August at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow before a large and knowledge-able audience. This August event is always a well-attended one as it is the now annual pre-eminent pipe band concert held during the week leading up to the World Pipe Band Championships.
The band's Pipe Major is Terry Tully and the Leading Tip is Stephen Creighton.
Both these CD's should be available at any music shop.
Ulster Star
20/01/2006
