Pipe band prepares for French festival

The local musicians are looking forward to the French Festival Interceltique de Lorient in August.

Each summer, around 700,000 people from all over the world visit Lorient for the festival which features 200 events and 5,000 performers celebrating Celtic culture.

The band believes that the invitation to take part in this festival is a result of its cross-community integration and youth involvement.

Ballyboley Pipe Band has always retained its links to the community, with local families providing the majority of the band’s official personnel and playing membership.

In addition to its competition workload, the band finds time to take part in local community events such as church functions, charity concerts, festivals and parades.

The band is a well-groomed and disciplined outfit, determined to grow in number and fully committed to providing a rich musical legacy for future generations.

The Old Schoolhouse, in Ballyboley, remains the band’s meeting since it was formed 94 years ago. Members believe that it has been able to prosper thanks to the determination of its musicians and support of local people.

Ballyboley Pipe Band is also preparing to celebrate its centenary in 2019 with a high profile recruitment campaign for new talent.

Aided by a generous tuition grant from the Ulster-Scots Agency, many new learner members have been recruited with classes in both piping and drumming taking place on a weekly basis.