By MacGregor Kennedy If they should enquire of you, “Why do you love old Scotland so?” it will be apparent that they have never encountered the bright prospect of making for the Vale of Atholl on a brilliant autumn day such as we had on our way to the 14th […]
1958-1959 By Jeannie Campbell MBE The ten tunes set for the Open competition in 1958 were The Battle of the Pass of Crieff, Lament for Donald Bàn MacCrimmon, Donald Gruamach’s March, The Earl of Antrim’s Lament, Lady Margaret MacDonald’s Salute, Scarce of Fishing, Colin Roy MacKenzie’s Lament, The Park Piobaireachd, […]
1956-57 By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1956 the tunes for the Open competition were Nameless (Book 8), The End of the Little Bridge, The Daughter’s Lament, Craigellachie, Lament for the Duke of Hamilton, The Red Speckled Bull, The Stewarts’ White Banner and Lament for The Harp Tree, from which four […]
Willie Gray (1883-1962) was one of the major figures of early 20th century piping. Most pipers today know his name through the well-known and ever popular 2/4 march, Pipe Major Willie Gray’s Farewell To The Glasgow Police. Composed by Pipe Major John MacDonald – Seonaidh Roidein – of South Uist […]
By Andrew Wiseman If it was not for one of the more catchy 2/4 marches ever to have been composed for the pipes then it is rather doubtful that Father John MacMillan of Barra, (Maighstir Iain Dhonnchaidh), would be so well remembered. Duncan Johnstone, the famous piper and composer – […]
By Keith Mumby I’d like to communicate a very pleasurable experience I had recently which took me nearer the heart of the spirit of piobaireachd than anything so far to date. I was at the College [of Piping] for a couple of days’ tuition under Duncan Johnstone (my, doesn’t he […]
One of the truly great bands in the history of the pipe band movement was the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band of Glasgow, Scotland. Farquhar MacRae (1859-1916) formed the band in the autumn (fall) of 1913 but he called it the City of Glasgow Pipe Band. Farquhar won the Gold […]
1955 By Jeannie Campbell MBE The 1955 Argyllshire Gathering was held on September 14 and 15. The judges for the Gold Medal were Col. Grant of Rothiemurchus, Maxwell MacDonald of Largie and Major David Murray. 30 entered and 23 played. For those interested in who entered and what their tunes […]
1953-1954 By Jeannie Campbell MBE At the beginning of 1953, in an effort to extend the season, hoteliers in Oban asked the council to hold the Argyllshire Gathering a week later. However, the stewards of the Gathering decided against altering their arrangements.Competitors for the Open Piobaireachd in 1953 were required […]
Tullylagan (Gaelic: Tulaigh Lagáin) is a small townland1 located near Cookstown in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. In 1923, two years after the formation of Northern Ireland, a group of men from the local Ulster Special Constabulary formed the band. The founding members donated a small amount of their wages to […]
