A charity event ‘Kids with Cancer’ held at the Royal Hotel Cookstown on Saturday 17th February raised £9,000 for the Children’s Cancer Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Organised by Upperlands (Maghera) man Gary Smyth (Leading Drummer of Quinn Memorial Pipe Band), the fundraising event was attended by over 250 pipe band enthusiast and friends. An impressive line up of pipe bands, pipers and drummers took part including former Ahoghill man Steven McWhirter, who recently won his eighth World Solo drumming title. Steven, a former member of Cullybackey Pipe Band, is now Lead Drummer of current world champion pipe band, Inveraray and District (Scotland).
Also taking part was: Pipe Major Richard Parkes MBE and a mini band of fourteen members of eleven times world champions Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band Drum Corps, Tullylagan Pipe Band Drum Corps and Bernagh Folk Group. Pipers included: Senior Ulster Solo Piping Champion (2017) Ashley McMichael, Glenn Ross and Ryan Cupples-Menendez (Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band) and Ian Burrows (Drumlough Pipe Band). Snare drummers included: Steven McWhirter and Chris McNicholl (Inveraray & District Pipe Band), Stephen Creighton and Michael McKenna (St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band), Gareth McLees (Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band), William Glenholmes (Vale of Atholl Pipe Band), Daniel Lynn (Cullybackey Pipe Band), John Scullion and John Lappin. Tenor drummers included: Jordan Bailie (Inveraray & District Pipe Band) and event organiser Gary Smyth’s son Calum (Quinn Memorial Pipe Band) from Magherafelt.
Caption for photo: 2018-0132
Pictured at the ‘Kids with Cancer’ charity event at the Royal Hotel Cookstown on Saturday 17th February is event organiser, Upperlands (Maghera) man Gary Smyth (Lead Drummer of Quinn Memorial Pipe Band) with Killyleagh man Richard Parkes MBE, Pipe Major of eleven times world champion pipe band Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band (left) and former Ahoghill man Steven McWhirter, Lead Drummer of current world champion pipe band Inveraray and District Pipe Band who recently won his eighth World Solo drumming title (right).
Article and photo by John Kelly.
