Malahide Castle contest first outdoor Irish event

Just as Scotland launched the 2004 outdoor season at Dunbar last Saturday, Northern Ireland will come out of the gate with a strong event on May 15 at Malahide Castle in Dublin.

The event has a strong entry of 46 bands, competing for a total prize purse of €5000, which is high by U.K. standards. Six bands are entered in Grade 1, and the event will mark the first contest for the current RSPBA Champion of Champions, Field Marshal Montgomery, under the band’s interim pipe-major, Alistair Dunn.

Dunn took over the post after the band’s leader, Richard Parkes, suffered a stroke in March. Parkes continues his recovery.

The Malahide Festival starts on May 14 with the Bushmills Invitational Solo Piping Competition, in which Ireland’s leading solo pipers will compete in two light music events. After the band events on Saturday, a Kitchenpiping contest will be held.

Stay tuned to Piper & Drummer Online for news and results from Malahide as they become available.

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