By Dionne Meehan
LETTERKENNY and District Pipe Band came third at the World Championships in Glasgow after they qualified for the first time in 10 years.
The World Pipe Band Championships, held in Glasgow Green, is the pinnacle of the pipe band community.
With over 200 bands travelling to compete in this year’s competition, bands from America, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Omen and the UK went head to head in a bid to take home a world title.
Following a qualifier on Saturday morning, Letterkenny and District Pipe Band competed in Grade 4b against 40 bands.
Conor Molloy, Pipe Major, said they were up against tough competition.
“We were delighted to have even qualified based on the standards of the bands we were competing against.
“What added even more delight was that we came third in the world in our grade,” he said.
Australia and Omen came out on top in Grade 4b, but despite this, Conor said they topped all the Irish and Scottish bands in their category.
With the youngest member of the band aged just 11, being placed third was a massive achievement.
Raphoe Ulster Scots Pipe Band and the Manorcunningham Pipe Band also competed over the weekend.
The Raphoe Ulster Scots qualified for their grade and came 7th in Grade 4a and Manorcunningham Pipe Band came 3rd in Grade 2b.
Wishing to congratulate the bands, Conor said the grade they were competing in was “extremely competitive” and that it was a “massive achievement” for them.
With classes recommencing for younger members (ages nine and upwards) in October, Conor urged those interested to get in touch through the ‘Letterkenny and District Pipe Band’ Facebook page.
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The Milford man's preparations for the World Championships have not run seamlessly this week