Finlay Johnston and Gordon Bruce arrived in a hot and sunny Oban at the weekend to complete their marathon 104 mile charity cycle from Glasgow. To date, the duo have raised £4,518 raised for Cancer Research. On hand to greet them as they arrived at the finish line near the […]
Where are you from and how did you get into piping?I’m from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia residing on Caribou Island, Nova Scotia. I started with the local Army Cadet Corps 219 under Captain Donald Carrigan’s instruction then continued with the Nova Scotia Highlanders then the Clan Thompson Pipe Band then […]
This year’s Argyllshire Gathering – the 150th anniversary – was notable for the fact that it took place at all. Up until the middle of July, there was a widespread belief that, despite Scotland now being in Level 0 of its government’s COVID-19 restrictions, organisers would nevertheless not be able […]
The 2021 Lochaber Gathering took place in splendid sunshine today in Fort William. The results were as follows: Ceòl MòrP/A Grade – 1. Pipe Major Ben Duncan (MacDougall’s Gathering); 2. Sandy Cameron (End of the Great Bridge); 3 Cameron MacDougall (Old Men of the Shells); 4. Gordon McCready (Lament for the […]
By Ian Burrows (RSPBANI Project Manager) As part of the Pipe Band Festival Showcase Events being organised by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, Northern Ireland branch (RSPBANI), the Mid Ulster Outdoor Solos took place last Saturday (August 21) with a healthy entry of 63 competitors. This was the first competitive […]
Day 2 of this year’s Argyllshire Gathering – Oban Games held at Mossfield Park – saw with hot and sunny weather in this the 150th anniversary of the event. Approximately 35 competing pipers plus Oban High School Pipe Band led the march to the field. Before the piping competitions commenced, […]
Stuart Liddell of Inveraray was the overall winner at the Argyllshire Gathering’s invitational solo piping competition, held today as part of the Gathering’s 150th anniversary. Liddell was placed first in the Piobaireachd and third in the March, Strathspey and Reel (MSR). A Medley competition was held for the first time […]
Champion piper, Finlay Johnston is about to embark on a marathon cycle trip to raise money for Cancer Research. Finlay’s father, Tommy, died last July from cancer. Finlay and friend, Gordon Bruce who teaches piping at St Columba’s School in Kilmacolm, aim to cycle from the National Piping Centre’s Glasgow […]
1949-1950 By Jeannie Campbell MBE In 1949, competitors for the Open Piobaireachd had to offer four tunes, The End of the Great Bridge, Lament for MacDonald’s Tutor, Scarce of Fishing and The Vaunting. For the Gold Medal no tunes were listed but for the Northern Meeting Gold Medal the requirement […]
We have been asked about why some pieces of ceòl mòr are played these days with taoruath and crunluath variations when formerly they weren’t – or, for the most part, weren’t. It’s a good question and our correspondent has made particular reference to The Big Spree, one of the tunes […]
