Major events will be held in Ballyclare, Bangor and Portrush during a hectic August which will also see the World Championships in Scotland.

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association of Northern Ireland believe that up to 50,000 people in total could attend the three main local events, which are supported by the Ulster-Scots Agency, Newtownabbey Council, North Down Council and Coleraine Council.

"It will be the perfect culmination for a very busy season," said Association Chairman George Ussher.

"There is a growing interest in pipe bands all over Northern Ireland. I would not necessarily say there are more bands, but they are certainly getting bigger and of course they have an incredible record of success across the world.

"We are also noticing that many more people are attending our events. They are becoming very popular as a family day out and the European Championships in Lisburn last weekend were a fantastic success. More than three and a half thousand people took part and many thousands more watched what was a superb gathering of cultural music and dancing.
"Our events are all about good music, colour and a sense of fun. They appeal right across the community."

The first event is in Ballyclare on Saturday, August 2, when the East Antrim Championships will be held at the local High school, starting at mid-day.

More than 50 bands are expected to take part and there will be several other attractions including a vintage tractor display, Scottish Country and Highland Dancing, a Drum Majors competition and lots of children's activities.

The Ulster Championships will be held in Ward Arras, attached to Ward Park, in Bangor on Saturday, August 9 and about 60 bands will attend.
They will include special guests, the New Zealand Police Pipe Band and the Australia Highlanders, who will give a free open air concert in Ward Park on Friday, August 1, at 7pm. There will also be a Highland Dancing Contest.

The Championships are being recorded by BBC Northern Ireland to be screened later in the year.

A very large crowd is expected in Bangor and George Ussher is excited about that event as well as the one in Ballyclare.

"With the World Championships coming up in Scotland on Saturday, August 16, these two events are very important. They will be a key part of the build up to the World Championships and I would expect a lot of people will want to see the local pipe bands and other competitors before they head off to Scotland.

"Everyone, including the judges in Scotland, will be watching the results from Bangor and Ballyclare to see who is in top form."

A summer school will be held in the Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart from August 19-22. This will include tuition in piping, drumming, dancing and drum majoring. Anyone interested in benefiting from top quality coaching should contact the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association at their headquarters in Lisburn.

On Friday, August 22, a Youth In Action event will be held at Kerr Street Green in Portrush at mid-day. It will involve piping, dancing and lots of other competitions for young people.


The biggest event of the month will be in Portrush on Saturday, August 23, when the North West Pipe Band Championships are expected to attract 25,000 people to the seaside town.

The event will be held at Ramore Head and will finish with a parade of the town.

"This will be a special end to the piping season," said George Ussher.

"Hopefully our pipe bands and drum majors will have returned from the World Championships with lots of silverware and we will have the opportunity to pay tribute to them.

"It will have been a busy August for everyone and the championships in Portrush will be the perfect way to finish the main events of the summer."