.....Band History

 

• The band was formed in 1946, under Pipe Major William Dickson from Saintfield, Co. Down and began competing in indoor competitions in 1949 in the NIBA competitions in the Ulster Hall.

• In 1953 they purchased their first new uniform, "Royal Stewart" full highland dress. At this time Pipe Major Hugh Murray was in charge and the late William Barlow was Drum Sergeant. During this period the Northern Ireland Branch of the RSPBA was formed and the band was part of the newly formed association.

• In 1956 they began competing in outdoor competitions under the stewardship of the late Pipe Major Roland English and the following year purchased their first set of new Henderson Bagpipes at £42-10 shillings each which the band are playing to this day. In these formative years the band had quite a bit of success under Pipe Major's English, McCourt, McQuillen and Grant, indeed the late Pipe Major Tom Grant (one of the stalwarts) was at the helm a number of times with the band.

• Having worn the Royal Stewart Tartan since the Band's formation the members decided that it was time for a change, and in 1985 the McBeth Tartan was dedicated. Kilt makers 'Gordon's' provided three samples of material for the Band to choose from; Black Stewart, Hunting Stewart, and McBeth. The big decision fell on the heads of the youth within the Band's ranks as they would be the future custodians of the Tartan. Everyone agreed that McBeth looked the best and was an easy choice because at that time it was something completely different from other band uniforms.

• It was after the death of Pipe Major Grant in 1987 that Samuel Connolly took over as Pipe Major at the age of 18 and in his first year in charge the Band took 2nd place at the Worlds in the grade three competition and were Champion of Champions on the home circuit.  The following year the newly promoted grade two band were 7th at the Worlds and from then on were rarely out of the prizes both at home and in Scotland, becoming British Champions in 1992.

• In 1991 the "back end" of the band was strengthened with the introduction of the legendary Bobby Rea as Drum Sergeant and in this year the band brought home the Drumming Prize from the Worlds. The winning streak continued until in 1994, possibly the band's best year to date they became Scottish, European and World Champions in grade two.

• 1995 and into grade one, in their first season in this grade the band collected seventeen trophies and during the year added a few new younger faces to the ranks some travelling quite a distance to practice two night's a week as well as take part in the many engagement's the band undertakes throughout the year.

• Following a downgrading at the end of the 1999 season and after a ‘hard winter’s work’ the band entered the 2000 season with great success winning numerous competitions including the Scottish, Ulster and All-Ireland Championships.

   

• The 2001 season was equally successful in Grade 2 for the band. As well as retaining the championships won the previous year the British and European titles were added to the list of successes as was the coveted Champion of Champions both at home and in Scotland. These successes led to promotion to the premier grade.

   

• Following the strengthening of playing personnel the band achieved a very credible 8^th place in the British Championships at Ayr in 2002 and two weeks later in the qualifying heats of the world championships finished 2^nd. A performance which qualified for their inclusion in the fifteen band final in Grade 1, ending up 13^th overall, an excellent achievement for their first time in the final.

   

• Over the next two seasons both corps dropped in numbers leading ultimately to the bands downgrading into Grade 2 for the 2005 season. Here’s hoping it shall not belong before the band is back firmly in Grade 1 where it rightly belongs.