In glorious sunshine the sound of pipe music filled the Enniskillen air on Saturday as 45 bands and 46 drum majors from all over Ireland attended the 2008 Fermanagh Pipe Band and Drum Major championships.
The spacious grounds of the Lakeland Forum were an ideal venue for the championships and proved to be very popular with all the bands taking part.
Spectators also turned out in force for the annual event organised by the Fermanagh section of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
Fermanagh was represented by Moybrane Pipe Band under the direction of Pipe Major William Stinson and also by the Irvine Memorial Pipe Band under the direction of Pipe Major Neil Strong - both bands played in the Grade 4B competition.
Derryclavin Pipe Band represented the host county in the Grade 4a competition, wearing the Royal Stewart tartan and under the direction of Pipe Major Gordon McKeown.
The Grade 1 competition was won by Ballycoan Pipe Band which are a County Down based band.
In the Grade 4a competition, Derryclavin Pipe Band achieved second place winning the Modern Motors Trophy. This is Derryclavin Pipe Band's second season in the grade and Pipe Major Gordon McKeown stated that he was delighted with the performance of the band and the efforts of the members.
In the Grade 4b competition, the Irvine Memorial Pipe Band achieved a creditable 4th place and won a Fermanagh Section for their achievement.
Moybrane Pipe Band had a creditable performance and were unfortunate not to make the prizewinners' list.
David Brownlee and Lauren McKeown, both from Derryclavin Pipe Band represented Fermanagh in the Drum Majors' competition. David qualified for the Senior Drum Majors' final and achieved a creditable fifth place. Lauren competed in the Novice Section and achieved seventh place.
The important and ceremonial role of 'Chieftain of the Day' was performed by Owen McKenna who was delighted to have been invited to fill this position,
Jim Henderson, President of the County Fermanagh Section of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association paid tribute to the efforts of a small but energetic section committee.
