Join Brian Reynolds for the last in this year's series of Up to the Line. Brian looks back at the 2011 season in the company of Branch Chairman George Ussher. The Winning All-Ireland Senior Piping and Drumming performances are included along with several other band performances from throughout the season. Brian is also talks to Cullybackey's Ryan Martin who is the current Juvenile Section 1 World Solo Drumming Champion.

As usual the podcast is available on iTunes or directly by clicking here.

16th March 2012  Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen at 8pm

Formed in 1922 Derryclavin Pipe Band are delighted to be celebrating their 90th Anniversary as well as the launch of their first CD.  The band, currently under the direction of Pipe Major Gordon McKeown and Drum Sergeant Richard Moore, are the proud wearers of the Royal Stewart tartan.  This evening promises to be a very exciting event with performances from the ever popular Session Beat, Bready Ulster Scot Dancers and Maguiresbridge Silver Band.  Session Beat and Maguiresbridge Silver Band will be accompanied by members of Derryclavin Pipe Band.  An evening not to be missed!

For tickets telephone Ardhowen Theatre Box Office  028 66325440 or www.ardhowentheatre.com

The Co. Fermanagh Setion will be hosting a Burns Night on Saturday 11th February in the Westville Hotel Enniskillen. With a 4 course meal, entertainment by Moybrone & Killadeas Pipe Bands, The Maguiresbrige Highland Dancers and the Alastair Scott Ceilidh Band it promises to be great evening.

See attached file for ticket details.

The turkey and tree are distant memories so why not keep that New Year's resolution to improve your knowledge of the bagpipe/drum/drum majoring and come along to the new school term.

Classes in theory and practice will run each Saturday, 9.30am to 12.30pm, from 14th January  to 24th March, 2012. Five centres are available:-

Centres - Venue
Ballymena - Ballymena P S
Banbridge - Edenderry P S
Cookstown - Cookstown P S
Enniskillen - Enniskillen Integrated
Londonderry - Lisneil College

Note

The date of the Ulster Solos will be the 21st April 2012 and the venue is Monsktown Mossley School. Entries will close on the 31st March.

Please note the changes to the grades for this event further information will be sent out shortly.

1. Juvenile U18  Confined to competitors who have attained the age, on 1^st November 2011
2. Juvenile U16  Confined to competitors who have attained the age, on 1^st November 2011
3. Juvenile U13  Confined to competitors who have attained the age, on 1^st November 2011

With Santa due very soon we would like to extend best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the membership and supporters from everyone here at the Branch.

It's been another great year for the Branch and we're sure everyone is working hard to make 2012 an even better year for Northern Ireland Pipe Bands and Drum Majors. Have a great break.

Just a quick piece of information the programmes recorded and directed by Alex Johnston during the season will be shown next Wednesday night 30th BBC2 7 30pm. More information will be posted later today. Two great new Pipe Band programmes on BBC Two Northern Ireland   Pipe Dreamers – Wednesday 30th November and Wednesday 7th December, BBC2 Northern Ireland @ 1930.   Richard Parkes has been pipe major of the Field Marshal Montgomery pipe band for thirty years. In that time, he has won the Grade One World Championships on six occasions. In 2010, he was runner up to his friend, Terry Tully, pipe major of the Saint Laurence O’Toole band from Dublin. In these two programmes we follow Terry and Richard from the start of the 2011 season as one tries to hold on to his title and the other strives to take it from him. With unrestricted access to the two pipe majors through planning, rehearsal and into the performance arena, this is an insider’s view into the world of competition pipe bands and just what it takes to be the champions of the world.

UPDATE

For those viewers who may not be able to view BBC2NI you can see it via Sky channel 992.