36 THURSDAY MAY 17 2012 News Update Email. [email protected] Gary McDonald Pipe Band Digest 2012 Qualification scheme C ULTURE ministers from Northern Ireland and the Republic have hailed a new education scheme aimed at encouraging youngsters of all traditions to study for a qualification in piping. Caral Ni Chuilin and her southern counterpart Dinny McGinley welcomed the launch of the Ulster-Scots Foundation Certificate in Highland Bagpiping. Developed jointly by the Ulster-Scots Agency and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) (NI) Branch), the qualification rewards students who have successfully demonstrated the necessary theoretical and practical competences in the playing of the practice chanter. “It’s fitting that with our strong tradition of piping in the north the first foundation certificate in piping has been developed,” Ms Ni Chuilin said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for young people who have an interest in music and in piping to have their hard work officially acknowledged.” Mr McGinley said: “This is a hugely welcome cultural development and I congratulate the Ulster-Scots Agency and RSPBA for taking the initiative in promoting the piping tradition and making it more accessible to young people. “The partnership approach that has brought about this development underpins the strong cultural and musical links between Northern Ireland and Scotland.” At a reception at Stormont’s Long Gallery, hosted by North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey, the first 28 students to complete the pilot qualification received their certificates from Ulster-Scots Agency chairman Tom Scott and RSPBA president George Ussher. The graduates were drawn from a number of schools including Ballyvester Primary, Castlederg High, Clounagh Junior High, Drumlegagh Primary, Fivemiletown Primary, Fivemiletown College and Newtownstewart Model Primary. Several also completed their certificate through attending the RSPBA (NI) Branch School. “Northern Ireland is the first part of the piping world to develop a qualification like this, and we’re certain it will help us to recruit new people to participate in, and enjoy, the piping tradition,” Mr Ussher said. Mr Scott said: “The pipe band fraternity is a global phenomenon, with hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts around the world, and the local movement provides some of the best bands anywhere.” Andy McGregor, who pipes in Cullybackey band, is the piping tutor for the Ulster-Scots Agency and said he believes the programme can be a success for years to come. TWENTY ensembles from Northern Ireland and the Republic will compete in the first pipe band “major” of the season this Saturday – the Scottish Championships in Dumbarton. The action at Levengrove Park – round one of the Champion of Champion series – starts at 10am, and 145 bands will come under the scrutiny of the adjudicators. Field Marshal Montgomery from near Lisburn are defending their crown in the top grade (they pipped St Laurence O’Toole from Dublin to the top spot a year ago). Closkelt, from near Rathfriland – who won grade 4B at the same venue in 2011 under pipe major James Knox OBE – will have a first crack at 4A in a major, where they are handily drawn to play 17th of the 23 bands. The draw and timings as they affect the travelling Irish contingent are as follows: ■ Grade 4B (heat one) – Clogher & District (10am). Grade 4B (heat two) – Tamlaght O’Crilly (10am) ■ Grade 4A – New Ross & District (11.05), Syerla & District (11.19), Tullylagan (11.54), Closkelt (12.22), St. Patrick’s Bandon (12.29). ■ Grade 3B – Matt Boyd Memorial (2.43), Letterkenny & District (2.59), Thiepval Memorial (3.15) ■ Grade 3A – St Laurence O’Toole second band (3.06), Raffrey (3.14), Quinn Memorial (3.30), Police Service of Northern Ireland (4.26), Gortaclare (4.34) ■ Grade 2 – Aughintober (12.54), Howard Memorial (2.24) ■ Grade 1 – Ravara (2.20), St Laurence O’Toole (2.50), Seven Towers (3.00), Cullybackey (3.10), Field Marshal Montgomery (4.20). Focusing on events which has produced world-class winners First ‘major’ of season to get under way as Scottish championships action begins WELCOME to a brand new Irish News column focusing on pipe banding across Ireland. Over the coming months we will look at the growth and success of the movement across the island, at national and international competitions (both bands, soloists and drum majors), on concert or festival stage and in education. Ireland has a long tradition of producing world champions across the various grades of competition and boasts the greatest percentage of pipe bands per square mile than anywhere on the planet, even Scotland. Pipe band musicians from the island have proved that their dedication, drive and ability are truly world-class, evidenced by the fact that the reigning supreme world champions hail from Lisburn (Field Marshal Montgomery clinched its seventh crown). Indeed the band they usurped for the coveted title was St Laurence O’Toole from Dublin, whose 2010 crown came in their centenary year. There are more than 10,000 playing members in pipe bands across Ireland, around a quarter of whom regularly compete at competitions at home and overseas. For the uninitiated, pipe banding in Ireland is run by two principal bodies – the Northern Ireland branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), which is the world-governing body of the movement, and the Irish Pipe Band Association (IPBA). There are eight grades in all, ranging from the elite grade one at the top end down to novice juvenile, though in all sections the enthusiasm, commitment and passion remains the same. Contests take place on most Saturdays between now and the end of the summer, with the highlight being the Ulster Championships in Dungannon on August 4 and the All-Ireland in Ballina, Co Mayo, on July 7. The north is also on the rota again to host one of the five “majors”, with the European Championships due to take place at Stormont on Saturday July 28. The first of those majors is this weekend, when the Scottish Championships are down for decision in Dumbarton. This will be followed by the British Championships in Annan (June 30), World Championships in Glasgow (August 11) and Cowal Championships in Dunoon (August 25). AS CORRESPONDENT of the new Irish News Pipe Band Digest, I’ll be out and about at the contests every Saturday during the summer, so there’ll be no place to hide. My day job is in business journalism but I’ve also written on pipe bands down the years and previously spent 10 years as press officer of the RSPBA, writing for various publications around the world. As my surname suggests, I come from a long family tradition of bagpiping, having joined Banbridge Pipe Band 35 years ago (I’ve been its chairman for the last 12 years). Although Banbridge won’t be seen in the contest arena for this season only due to a number of circumstances, I will be competing in the colours of Moneygore Pipe Band in grade 3B, swapping my more accustomed Wallace tartan, top right, for MacLean of Duart, right. I’d welcome all views, brickbats and bouquets... but please wait until after I’m out of the competition arena before hassling me. ■ As this column evolves we want to hear from you – whether you’re a bandsman or woman, supporter, business or even a politician. You can email me at [email protected] or phone 028 9033 7469. ■ STARS OF THE FUTURE: Young recipients of piping certificates pictured at a reception in Stormont. Included are RSPBA president George Ussher, Ulster-Scots Agency chairman Tom Scott, Dail minister Dinny McGinley TD and piping tutor Andy McGregor, along with MLAs Mervyn Storey and Jonathan Bell Gary McDonald How to get in touch ■ DUMBARTON BOUND: Closkelt pipe band from Co Down in the tuning park before last Saturday’s competition in Newtownards, where they were third in grade 4A PICTURE: Hugh Russell