Irish success at World Pipe Band Championship

St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band from Dublin have won the overall champions prize at the world championships in Scotland, it was revealed today.

The band is celebrating its 100th-year anniversary this year. Almost 240 bands competed in front of around 55,000 people the event at Glasgow Green.

Scottish Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said: “I would like to congratulate this year’s World Pipe Band Champions, St. Laurence O’ Toole Pipe Band and everyone who has helped make this spectacular contest such a success.

“From the spine-tingling sound of the massed pipes and drums to the delicious local food and drink, this year’s event has offered audiences at home and around the world a real taste of Scotland at its best.”

Pipe bands from the North won almost half the prizes at the Glasgow event with 30 victors. They also took six out of 16 world titles.

The North's Culture Minister Nelson McCausland congratulated them.

“This success is a credit to the Northern Ireland branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and the results in Glasgow demonstrate that we have a large number of bands which are truly world-class,” he said.

“For a country the size of Northern Ireland, this is a remarkable achievement.”

The Lisburn-based Field Marshal Montgomery Band won second place this year.

The minister added: “This high degree of success is a reflection of the enthusiastic support for piping around Northern Ireland and we can all be justly proud of each band’s achievement.”

There are approximately 100 registered pipe bands in the North.

Mr McCausland said: “It is clear that the quality of musicianship is second to none. These results are a testament to the time and effort which the players devote to their music.”