The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI) and Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council are pleased to host the 70th Ulster Pipe Band Championships which will incorporate the Champion of Champions prizes for the 2023 season and will also include a Highland Dancing Competition.
This year’s event returns to the town of Antrim which last played host for the Ulsters back in 2017. A new venue adjacent to Antrim Forum has been selected for this year due to the volume of the event and it will take place on Saturday 12 August from 10am.
This will be the final local Championships of the 2023 season and will serve as a great showcase for our bands and drum majors as they prepare for The World Championships in Glasgow next week. The event will feature contests for Pipe Bands from Grades 4B up to Grade 1 as well as Drum Majors of all grades. There will be upwards of 48 band performances, 38 drum majors and highland dancers all competing on the day.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper said:
“I am delighted to welcome this event back to the Borough, bringing with it an audience from far and wide. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the fantastic Pipe Bands, Drum Majors and Highland Dancers in action once again. It is a great honour to have the role of Chieftain for the day at this colourful spectacle.”
President & Life Ambassador of the RSPBANI, Mr Winston Pinkerton said:
“I am so pleased to welcome the bands, drum majors and dancers back to Antrim for this year’s Ulster Championships, be it in a different venue a stone’s throw from the familiar Castle Gardens grounds. The Ulsters is regarded as our local major and something that we always look forward to in the season. This year, we will also incorporate our Champion of Champions prizes marking the successes of all this season as a whole. I wish all our bands and drum majors the very best for the day and all the best luck in Glasgow next weekend for the World Championships where I know they will all do Northern Ireland proud on the world stage.”
Due to the volume expected, a free park and ride system will be in place throughout the day with all parking for this event located at The Junction retail park. Shuttle buses will be running all day and are accessible for disabled passengers. Free parking will also be available at Castle Mall carpark and routes to the venue will be signposted. Overnight parking for Motorhomes is available in the area at Antrim Lough Shore Carpark, Castlewood Holiday Park and Six-Mile Water Caravan Park.
Visit www.rspbani.org or contact the RSPBANI office on 028 9267 0445 if you require further information.
Pic-L-R
Rebekah Keery (Michelle Johnston School), Winston Pinkerton (President of RSPBANI), The Mayor, Drum Major Emma Barr (Field Marshal Montgomery) 2022 Ulster Champion, Piper David Beggs (Major Sinclair Memorial), Leah McIlwrath (Michelle Johnston School)
