MEMBERS of Kilbarchan Pipe Band are making a big noise in the traditional music scene after recording another impressive victory.
They bagged first place in the 4B category at the United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships held at Lurgan Park, in Northern Ireland.
It was their second major competition win this year, following on from success in the same category at the 2022 British Pipe Band Championships last month.
Michael Kerr, pipe corporal and secretary of the pipe band, said he is “still on cloud nine” after their latest achievement.
He told The Gazette: “It’s quite rare for a Scottish band to go across to Ireland, where there are a lot of good pipe bands, and win on their turf.
“We were really happy with our performance, both from the piping core and the drum core, and to then finally get the result at around 6pm that day, we were all just ecstatic.”
The band now aims to maintain its form as it competes at the European Pipe Band Championships, in Inverness, this Saturday, and the Scottish and World Championships later this summer.
Michael said: “We are top of the Pipe Band Champion of Champions league table for our category, which is amazing.
“If our results continue as they have been in the next few major competitions, our pipe band could possibly be promoted at the end of the season.
“I think the biggest factor in our success so far is that we continued to practice during lockdown through Zoom and then in-person as soon as the restrictions safely allowed it.
“We’re now focusing on continuing our drive and the hard work that all our band members have been putting in.”
The pipe band is currently on the lookout for new members who are available to take part in practice sessions at the Scout Hall, in Barn Green, Kilbarchan, on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Less experienced players can also take part in a tuition programme offered by the group to help improve their piping or drumming skills.
For more information, send a message via Kilbarchan Pipe Band’s Facebook page at facebook.com/kilbarchanpb.
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