Society welcomes more newcomers

“It was very pleasing,” said the society’s Andreea Young, “to see quite a few new faces and we even had the local McDonald Memorial pipers bringing their band practice to us.”

The gathering kicked off with Ryan Cupples Menendez playing a few 4/4 marches before moving on play his MSR and finishing off with a selection of jigs.

“It’s very plain to see why Ryan was in the prizes at the Cowal Highland Gathering from his performances,” said Andrea.

Next up was one of the newest members, Patrick Martin, who started off with a brief history on the Uilleann Pipes and went on to play a slow air and Galician jigs, using the Uilleann Pipes, that were recorded by Liam O’Flynn and Carlos Nunez.

Patrick then switched to the wooden flute, playing some slip jigs from the River Dance,

“ I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed getting to listen to a change of instrument from the norm,” said Andrea.

Ian Jess opened up the second half of the gathering, using a Deger electronic chanter, with a keyboard set up for backing tracks for some of his tunes.

Noted Andrea, “All of the tunes we heard Ian play were his own compositions which are going to be published in his new book around Christmas time.”

Glen Cupples next warmed up with a few 4/4 marches on his new set of pipes before playing the MSR and finishing with a selection of jigs.

Blackthorn Piper for the evening was Alastair Murray, who has since moved to Pittsburgh for a few months.

He began with a selection of 4/4 marches and followed with a set of jigs. The piobaireachd for the evening was ‘Massacre of Glencoe’. Alastair then treated listeners to a selection of a slow air, reels and jigs.

Michael McBride finished off the evening by announcing that Chris Armstrong will be visiting to perform in a recital for the society on January 19 in Dromore Rugby Club.

More information on the event will follow in due course.

Meanwhle, the society will next gather on November 21.