World Champions Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band with Sir Nigel Hamilton RSPBA NI Patron, Winston Pinkerton RSPBA NI President, Councillor Trevor Wilson Ulster-Scots Agency Board, Freddie Kettyle Ulster-Scots Agency Chair, and Ian Crozier Ulster-Scots Agency CEO.
Syerla and District Pipe Major, Brian McMullan with Sir Nigel Hamilton and Ian Crozier.
Major Sinclair Memorial Pipe Band performing for the crowd.
World Champion Adult Drum Major Kara Gilmour with Councillor Trevor Wilson, Ian Crozier, Freddie Kettyle, Winston Pinkerton, and Sir Nigel Hamilton.
Ravara Pipe Band with Freddie Kettyle, Ian Crozier, Councillor Trevor Wilson, Michelle McIlveen MLA, Winston Pinkerton, and Sir Nigel Hamilton.
ULSTER’S WORLD-BEATING PIPE BANDS CELEBRATED AT STORMONT
The hill was alive with the sound of music recently as world-class Ulster-Scots musicians came together at Parliament to mark their success at this year’s World Pipe Band Championships, in a celebration organised by the Ulster-Scots Agency at Parliament Buildings. The Great Hall was packed to capacity with pipers, drummers and drum majors in a gathering that included seven of the world’s top bands, most notably Grade One World Champions, Field Marshall Montgomery along with Ravara, Matt Boyd Memorial, Major Sinclair Memorial, Kildoag, Gransha and Syerla Pipe Bands. The gathering also included many top drum majors, including the reigning adult world champion, Tyrone-born Kara Gilmour, who competes with the Police Scotland Pipe Band.
Piper Graham Harris welcoming guests to Stormont.
Particular accolade was reserved for Richard Parkes MBE, who achieved a recordbreaking thirteenth world title in his role as Pipe Major of the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band. Parkes received a special presentation from Ian Crozier as they announced plans for a new Ulster-Scots Agency supported Richard Parkes Pipe Majors Masterclass, where the FM man is set to guide Ulster’s current and future pipe band leaders. 76
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