photo – Jim Curtin

The South of Ireland Piping, Drumming and Drum Major contests were held at Cobh on Sunday 1/6/14. The rich heritage of bagpipe music and Pipe Bands, most obvious in their uniforms and instruments but less so in their associated traditions, like the appointment of a ‘Chieften’ for the duration of competition day etc, makes for great photography.

Membership of Pipe Bands is very much part of tradition too as, in many cases, several members and different generations of the same family, men and women, girls and boys, can be found playing side by side. Old and young alike, standing together, playing together, you can almost see the baton being passed on right there in front of your eyes and, make no mistake, it is.

While most such competitions are held in designated parks, the annual Cobh contest is unique in that it is held on the closed main street of the town. This brings the music ‘up close and personal’ to an audience that would, most likely, not otherwise hear it and as such, is the ‘X’ factor that differentiates this contest from most others in the country. The grand finale of massed bands playing together in their salute to the Chieften and the National Anthem is a spine-tingling experience at the best of times but in such surroundings, is quite breath-taking. That all this takes place within a stones throw of Cork Harbour where there is a visiting cruise liner towering over its berth and discharging passengers by the thousand into the town, makes for an extra special occasion.

photo – Jim Curtin

Pipe Bands are not just judged on their ability to play; points are awarded for piping, drumming, ensemble and marching and deportment. There are varying grades from 1 to 5 with 1 being the very best and the many contests throughout the year are when the long practice hours of winter are tested out. The Drum Major is the person who is often seen leading a Pipe Band. He or she holds a staff which is ‘flourished’ in a varying manner of styles to convey unspoken orders to the band as to when and how to turn, halt, play and stop playing etc. These are judged on their uniform, marching and deportment and the degree of fluency with which they use the staff.

At the end of competition day it will be elation for some and disappointment for more but one thing for sure is that all the bands leaving Cobh today will, within a day or two, be back in their band rooms and polishing their performances for the next day out.

Mouse over the image below to see and activate the slide show controls and photographers’ details. Photography by Kevin Day and Jim Curtin. Enjoy.

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