Home | Contact Us |
About Us | Language | Education | culture | Awareness |
| About Worsels | leid | Fowkgates | Lear | Awaur |
Overview | History | Music | Dance | Literature | Audio | Gatherings, Pageant Groups & Festivals | Robert Burns - The Ulster Connection | Did You Know? |
Pipes and Bands | Lambeg Drum | Fiddle | Fife and Flute | Royal Scottish Pipe Bands Association | Ulster Bands Association |


The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association - Northern Ireland Branch

A brief history
The NI Branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association has evolved as one of the most successful and forward-looking associations in the world.

It now has a number of bands, with bands members and two of its former senior personnel currently occuping positions in the Royal Pipe Band Association, chairman George Ussher who is in his second year and President Thomas Mc Carroll, who is in his fifth year of service.

It was formed at a meeting in the C.I.Y.M.S. Hall, Donegal Square East, Belfast on Saturday 28th October 1950.  This was the monthly meeting of the NI Pipe Band League which was affiliated to the NI Bands Association. There was a notice of motion from Ballycoan Pipe Band that all league bands become members of the Scottish Pipe Band Association and it was unanimously agreed that the name be changed from the N.I.P.B. League to the Scottish Pipe Band Association, Northern Ireland Branch.

To form a branch it was necessary to have ten bands, and the following indicated they wished to join the associatio, Ballynahinch, Ballycoan, Boardmills, Duke of York, 8th Belfast Memorial (this was a band formed in Burma in 1942), Raffrey, Rasharken, St Josephs, Sydenham, and Warringsford.

However, some 50 years later the NI Association celebrated its anniversary


The following officers were elected:
President: James A Faulkner OBE, Chairman: Tom Hart – Sydenham, Treasure5r: Arthur Nelson – Warringsford, Assistant Secretary: George Finlay – Boardmills. National Council Reps: Tom Hart, Arthur Nelson, Advisory Reps P.M. WHR Wood and D.M. William Kit Reynolds.

The new branch had a visit at its first branch meeting in January 1951, from the President of the S.P.B.A. Councilor John McLelean and General Secretary Donald McIntosh. Both gentlemen indicated their full support for the aims of the pipe band fraternity in Northern Ireland, namely the advancement of pipe band music internationally also to create a bond of fellowship with all pipe band personnel throughout the world.

The branch had no money so Raffrey Pipe Band organised a dance in the Andrews Memorial Hall, to accumulate some funds, while South Down Section were granted permission to run a pipe band contest in Banbridge where local traders donated the trophies, with profits going towards branch funds. Mid Antrim bands got together to form a contest committee headed by Jackie Woods and P.M. Tom McQuillan the idea being to raise funds for the branch. The committee was given permission to stage the first Ulster Championships in the Ballymena Show grounds on Saturday 5th of May 1951 with cups donated by local traders. There were four grades at this contest, Junior 1 and 2, Intermediate and Open. Twelve bands were entered but some were allowed to double up making a total of 19 in the competition. The adjudicators were P.M. M McCallum and D.M. D Lyle who traveled on the Glasgow boat. There was not a great turn out of the general public, and a profit of £100 4s 9d was handed over for branch funds.

The All-Ireland Championships at Balmoral Showgrounds was held under the S.P.B.A. rules for the first time. Branch meetings were held on the last Saturday of each month accept June, July and August. The meetings were well attended with many lively debates, in fact they were so keen that two meetings were held on the same day, the Branch meeting at 2.30pm and the first Annual general Meeting at 7.00pm the date being 1951.

The S.P.B.A. were so impressed with the way things were moving in Northern Ireland that they were given the European Championships in 1953 with the venue being Balmoral Showgrounds. What a day it turned out to be with the big bands coming across from Scotland, and a massive entry of NI bands, not forgetting the general public who really turned out in their thousands. The parent body were so delighted with the success of the event that they brought the World Championships to Belfast in 1956 and 1962. It was generally agreed we were not getting enough publicity in the media and to remedy this Bill Morrow of the Belfast telegraph was appointed Press Officer. Things certainly took off from there, so the branch are really indebted to the late W.D. Morrow for putting the pipe band movement on the map.

One must not forget the numerous achievements of the bands in the Major Championships especially Field Marshal Montgomery who have won the Grade 1 World title on three occasions, while the drum Majors have dominated all grades for many years. Then of course our solo Drummers have won many World titles over the years, in particular Bobby Rea and Andrew Scullion who have each won the senior on two occasions.

Over the years personnel from Northern Ireland have played a prominent part in the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, Edward McVeigh was Chairman for 6 years also Honorary Vice-President. Alistair Gray was Chairman for one year with the current occupant being George Ussher who is in his second year. We also have Thomas McCarroll who is in his 5th year as President.

Since its inception the NI Branch have had 4 Presidents namely J A Faulkner OBE, James Shilliday, Edward McVeigh MBE and the current president Thomas McCarroll. Past Chairmen Edward McVeigh MBE (12years), George Milligan (2 years), Robert Boyd (2 years), Alistair Gray (6 years), George McClean Holland (7 years), Jim Major (7 years), John Croziers (15 years) and our current Chairman George Ussher from 2002. Past Branch Secretary’s Tom Hart (14 years), Fred J Walker (37 years) and our current secretary Lorraine McVeigh from 2001.

There are four sections within the Branch namely Antrim, Down, Fermanagh and Mid-Ulster who each hold a championship in their own area as well as various other activities.

The N.I. Piping and Drumming School operates within the Branch under School Director Samuel H Bailie M.A. and his team of qualified instructors. They cater for all standards from learners through to experienced pipers and drummers, with certificate courses from Grades 1–8 the venues for 2002/3 being Lisburn and Londonderry.

There is another active group within the Branch the Solo Committee who are responsible for organising the Ulster Solo Championships. Convenor of this committee is Winston Pollock with Samuel Lawson secretary.

One must not forget the ladies committee who cater at the indoor events this team also sell programmes at the outdoor competitions the Convenor being Mrs. Pat Crothers.

(The NI Branch officers are included in the Report for the AGM.)

The Association celebrated their 50th Ulster Championship in August 2001 in Belfast where Ormeau Park was full to capacity with an estimated 15,000 people in attendance and over 60 Bands and drum majors participating in the event. Not forgetting the Ulster Scots Orchestra, Highland dancers, Scottish Country dancers giving it real carnival atmosphere. Without a doubt this was the largest crowd of people ever present at a pipe band contest in Northern Ireland.

It has certainly been a success story all the way, starting with 10 bands in 1950 and this year there are 93 bands in membership, and recently an additional 3 bands from Canada, who we look forward to seeing at some of our contests next season. It is worth recording that there was 105 bands in membership in the early seventies.