Rachel retains her crown

A DRUM Major with Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band claimed her second All-Ireland title when the band travelled to Ballina, County Mayo.

She was Rachel Caldwell, aged 13, and it is the second successive year that the talented teenager has lifted the title.

The Bready Band gave a steady performance and secured a fifth place in Grade 4A, but the highlight for the Band was seeing Rachel lift the All Ireland Title for the second year in succession.

Rachel was thrilled with the result and her hours of dedication and practice has certainly paid off.

Rachel attends the Paula Braiden Drum Major School in Drumahoe and makes the trip once a week from her home in Belfast for practice.

A spokesperson for the band said: “We are absolutely delighted for Rachel and we are very proud to have her as our Drum Major, she is a real asset to our Band.”

There is a break in the Pipe Band competitions now for the Summer and the competitions will resume on July 24 with the Heart O’ Down Championships in Newcastle. Meanwhile the Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band are keeping themselves busy through ‘Orangefest’ and have attended the Mini Twelfth in Killen and went to Belfast to take part in ‘Orangefest’ on the Shankill Road where the Band put on a full concert along with the Shelly-Anne Campbell School of Highland Dancing in The Spectrum Centre.