The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch in conjunction with RSPBANI Mid Ulster Section and with the support of Mid Ulster District Council are pleased to announce the launch of the 71st Ulster Pipe Band & Drum Major Championships.
This event will be held in the fantastic grounds of Cookstown High School, a few minutes from the town centre and will take place on Saturday, August 3, from 10am.
RSPBANI Chairperson, Alastair Patterson said: “Following our announcement earlier in the season that support for this year’s Ulster Championships had been withdrawn quite late in the day, we immediately started work to find a replacement. With help from a number of Branch and Section colleagues we were able to secure a venue for this year’s event to take place and I am delighted that the 2024 Ulster Championships is coming to Cookstown on Saturday 3rd August and in particular, to the popular Cookstown High School venue. It is great to be working in collaboration with our Mid Ulster Section and also with the team at Mid Ulster District Council in the delivery of this premier event within the Northern Ireland season for our bands, drum majors and our avid followers. This is guaranteed to be an excellent event and we certainly look forward to feeling every beat, hearing every note and seeing every flourish.”
RSPBANI Mid Ulster Section Chairperson, Mr Trevor Wilson said: “We in the Mid Ulster Section are very pleased to see another contest in our district this year and we look forward to welcoming the bands, drum majors and spectators back to Cookstown High School again this summer. Along with our Branch colleagues, we are collectively indebted to Mid Ulster District Council for supporting this second event in the 2024 season which was at shorter notice than we usually plan for. Without the support of Council, the event would not have been possible. My sincere thanks also go to the Principal of Cookstown High School for once again allowing the sound of the pipes and drums and the spectacle of our Drum Majors to fill the air around the school, a simply wonderful venue for pipe bands right in the heart of Ulster.”
Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Eugene McConnell said: “I am pleased to see the return of the Ulster Pipe Band and Drum Major Championship 2024 to Cookstown this August. Celebrating their 71st year of this championship competition, it is always a highly anticipated and successful event, bringing competitors and spectators from far and wide to Mid Ulster and I look forward to welcoming them to our district.”
There is ample parking for everyone including those who need accessible parking and details of this will be made available shortly on our website. Whilst we try to keep our events free for everyone, there will be a small charge of £5 per vehicle to park within the High School grounds and we will be accepting cash and card payments at the gate. Our volunteers will be in place to guide everyone to the parking areas. There will also be plenty of food and drink vendors on the day and we will all hope for pleasant weather.
More information will be available shortly on our website www. rspbani.org/event/ulster-championships-2024