Big thank you from Lisburn.com

Musicians tune up for All Ireland Solos

Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell

THE All Ireland Solos will be held on September 19 in Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun, Dublin, with a massive entry of 100 pipers and 83 drummers taking part.

Piping will start at loam and drumming at 11am. For further information and directions to venue please contact Mervyn Herron on 02840624849 or 07702 681189.

There is a meeting of the Northern Ireland branch of the RSPBA on Saturday September 26 commencing at 2pm in the Trinity Methodist Church Hall Knockmore Road Lisburn.

The 2009 World Solo Drumming Championships will be held on October 24 at the Glasgow Caledonia University, Glasgow. Entry forms need to be sent to the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, 45 Washington Street Glasgow.G3 8AZ before Friday September 25.

The Competing Soloists' Organisation and the Northern Ireland Piping Society will be putting on a special weekend in October for solo pipers.

The fifth annual promotion of the 'Young Player of the Year' will take place on Friday October 2 at the Dungannon Rugby Football Club at Stevenson Park, Moy Road, Dungannon commencing at 7.00pm.

This has always proved to be a popular event for the young soloist who has featured as prize winner in other solo competitions during the past year, and invitations have been distributed to those eligible in each of the two classes- under 15 and over 15-under 18 years.

The second event organised by the Northern Ireland Piping Society will be held the following day Saturday (October 3) in the Adair Arms Hotel Ballymoney Road Ballymena. This long: established invitational event, now entering its 31st year, is due to get under way with the Piobaireachd competition at 1.00pm. Later in the day, the specially invited soloists will vie for the honour of winning the coveted 'Piper of the Year' competition, scheduled to start at 7.00pm.

A common factor in both these promotions will be the guest adjudicator - Mr James Murray from Cupar in the Kingdom of Fife. A Gold Medal winner at the famous Argyllshire gathering, Oban, as well as a 'Former Winners MSR' at the Northern Meeting at Inverness, he has considerable knowledge and expertise.

After his judging duties, and if time permits, James will perform a short recital both at the 'Young Player of the Year' and the 'Piper of tie Year.

All in all, with all levels of competition from the young. beginner to the more experienced player being catered for,  these two events promise a weekend of piping excellence not to be missed. For further information on the 'Young Player of the Year' contact CSO secretary Samuel Lawson on 3882 037, and for the 'Piper of  the Year' NIPS secretary Kenneth Stewart on 2564 4590.

Ulster Star
18/09/2009