The skirl of the pipes and the beat of the drums will be heard right across Enniskillen on Saturday afternoon 31st May 2008, when the Pipe Band fraternity descend on the County Town of Enniskillen for the Annual Co Fermanagh Pipe band and Drum Majors Championships.
The popular event is organised by the Fermanagh section of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
The Lakeland Forum is the venue for the 2008 Championships and organisers have advised that there is no admittance charge for the event.
The important role of 'Chieftain of the day' will be undertaken by Mr Owen McKenna proprietor of the Railway Hotel, Enniskillen.
The Championships has attracted an entry of 45 Pipe Bands and 42 Drum Majors, some of them the cream of Irelands Pipe Bands & Drum Majors. Including World, European, British, Scottish and All Ireland Champion Bands and Drum Majors. This entry includes the 2007 Grade Two World Champions Cullybackey Pipe Band.
Co Antrim.
Fermanagh will be represented at the Championships in the Grade 4B Competition by Moybrone Pipe Band under the direction of Pipe Major William Stinson and Irvine Memorial Pipe Band under the direction of Pipe Major Neil Strong.
In the Grade 4A competition Fermanagh will be represented by Derryclavin Pipe Band who wear the Royal Stewart Tartan and are under the direction of Pipe Major Gordon McKeown.
In the Drum Majors competition Fermanagh's representatives will be David Brownlee Senior Drum Major section and Lauren McKeown Novice Section., both Drum Majors are from the Derryclavin Pipe Band.
The Championships commence at 12.30 and run throughout the afternoon until the grand finale and prize presentations at 5.30pm.
The Fermanagh Section of the Pipe Band Association are delighted to announce that for the 2008 championships a Dance Festival will be incorporated into the Annual Event.
The Dance Festival is in conjunction with the Ulster Scots Agency will be held in a Marquee close to the Piping competition arena. The Dance Festival will hold demonstrations all afternoon of Scottish Country dance, Highland dancing, Irish dancing, and have a Scottish Country dance band. The Marquee will also hold an exhibition from the Ulster Scots Agency.
At the Co Down Section Contest held in Banbridge last Saturday Derryclavin Pipe Band secured 2nd place in the Grade 4A Competition and Drum Major Lauren McKeown also from Derryclavin Pipe Band achieved 3rd place in the Novice Section.
