STORMONT STORMED BY ST PATRICK’S PIPE BAND
WICKLOW Pipe Band were third overall against bands from Scotland and Northern Ireland as they competed at the UK Pipe Band Championships recently at Stormont Castle in Belfast.
The pipe band, whose official name is St Patrick’s Pipe Bank, but goes under Wicklow Pipe Band on the competition circuit, exceeded all of their expectations with their achievement and not only were they placed third overall but they came second in the Drumming and Ensemble section.
‘ This is an amazing achievement for us as it was our first major competition and considering the standard of the pipe bands in these major competitions,’ said Alan Dunne, Pipe Major.
Their achievements follow on from an overall second place finish in Enniskillen two weeks previously.
The band has now competed in three competitions with their Drum Corp finishing in the top three each time with two seconds.
The band celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2016 and according to Alan, the standard of play- ing has really stepped up over the past three years with players joining them from other bands.
‘We would have been nowhere near competing at a Major competition a couple of years back let alone doing so well and attaining prizes so we are thrilled,’ said Alan.
Their Bass and Tenor section has also recorded two first place finishes.
And their competitive spirit doesn’t stop here as they have further competitions to participate in and are hoping for similar successes.
On Sunday, June 25, the band is taking part in the East of Ireland Championships while on Saturday, July 1st the band is competing in the All-Ireland Championships in Lurgan.
They are also practising hard to compete in the Ulster Championships on Saturday, July 22, and with their season coming to a close at the end of the summer they will travel to Glasgow from Thursday, August 10th to Sunday, August 13, when they will take part in the World Pipe Band Championships – which will be a first for the band.