AS FAR as titles go they don’t come any bigger than ‘world champions’ and that’s exactly what the New Ross & District Pipe Band can now proudly claim to be.
The band emerged victorious at last weekend’s World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow Green and in addition to securing the Intermediate world title they also secured the overall title in the core drumming section.
The band’s best result in the world championships prior to last weekend was 6th overall and that was recorded 16 years ago.
Pipe Major with the band, Nigel O’Neill, expressed his delight at the win when he talked to the New Ross Echo yesterday.
“It’s absolutely fantastic, an incredible feeling,” he said. The band had to qualify for the final on Saturday morning and then, having successfully overcome that hurdle, they went up against nine other bands in the final. Such was the high level at which they performed the band received an almost unanimous vote from the four judges.
“Three judges gave us their No.1 while the fourth judge gave us No.2 so that made the victory all the more sweeter,” said Mr. O’Neill.
Receiving a unanimous vote is almost unheard of so to achieve an overall total of five from the judges was an astounding result for New Ross. To put it in perspective the second placed band got a result of 11!
This has been a phenomenal year for the band as it won the All-Ireland championships in July and finished runners-up in the European Championships.
“It was great to get second in that but to be honest we’d rather be second in Europe but best in the world,” quipped Mr. O’Neill when commenting on the band’s achievements to-date.
Preparations for the world championships began last October and in securing the title the band beat off opposition from 260 other bands.
Twenty-one members of the band performed on Saturday in the final.
“This was our first ever time winning the title and was our highest place since we finished 6th overall, 16 years ago,” said Mr. O’Neill. Perhaps, the standard at which the band performed was perfectly highlighted on one British website where the New Ross band was marked down as being from England. It would appear that just as with Katie Taylor and certain sections of the British media the success of the New Ross band meant the British even claimed them as their own!
The band returned to a rapturous welcome in the Irishtown on Sunday evening. The band marched up to Corcoran’s Pub where an impromptu reception was held.
The band’s success will be formally acknowledged in the Brandon House Hotel on Saturday, September 1, at 8 p.m. during which medals will be presented to the band members.
For information about tickets contact any of the band members.
