Ulster Pipe Band Championships 2025

Attending the 72^nd Ulster Championships
Venue:  West Strand Bay, Portrush

[click here for location map]

Admission & Parking

Event Admission: Free

General Parking:

• Parking is available at various town centre car parks – charges/restrictions may apply.

Accessible Parking:

• Limited car parking for Blue Badge holders was available to be pre-booked w/c 21 July – however, full capacity has been reached with all available spaces now allocated. Please use alternative parking around the town centre.
• A reminder that you will only gain entry to the accessible parking area if you present a unique accessible parking pass together with a valid blue badge. This blue badge must be for an occupant of the vehicle on the day.
• Entry will be denied if you do not present both pass and blue badge.

Band Coach Parking:

• Band Coaches must only park at designated coach parking zone.
• Please pre-book using Parking Pass Application Form.
• Passes will be issued on Friday 1 August before 7pm.

Motorhomes:

• No overnight parking is available at West Strand Bay.  Daily motorhome parking is available close to the venue – please see Sandhill Drive Motorhome Park | Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council for information.

Band Guidance

Band Gazebos:

• Gazebos must only be erected within the designated band tuning/practice areas
• Parking for gazebo transport is limited to 1 vehicle per band
• Please pre-book gazebo parking using Parking Pass Application Form.
• Passes will be issued on Friday 1 August before 7pm.
• You must have valid Public Liability Insurance schedule when applying online. If you have previously provided evidence you do not need to reupload.
• If event organisers request gazebos to be taken down during the event for safety reasons, this must be complied with.

Practice / Tuning:

• When your band is practicing/tuning, you must be aware of your proximity to any band and/or drum major contest arenas and must ensure that you do not get too close as to cause interference with them.
• Final Tuning will be clearly identifiable.
• Bands should only sound within the final tuning area to ensure there is no interference with any contest arenas for bands or Drum Majors.
• Bands should follow any requests from RSPBA Directors or Branch Stewards regarding this and must comply.

Finale:

• The finale will be a massed band, advancing playing “The Battle’s O’er”.
• Bands should start preparing at the conclusion of Grade 1 competition and all bands and Drum Majors must be in place no later than 17:25hrs to ensure that the Massed Band Finale commences promptly.
• Nominated lead bands are: Closkelt, Irvine Memorial, Gransha, McDonald Memorial and Joseph Forde Memorial and will be informed by email in advance.

Parade:

• At the conclusion of the Finale and prizegiving, a parade along the Promenade will commence at 6.15pm.
• The parade will start at the event area at West Strand Bay, parading along to South Pier and up to the grass area adjacent to Kerr Street.
• Pipe Majors please note, the Promenade narrows for a short distance and Bands will have to go 3-abreast through this area.

General Information

Programmes:

• Will be available to purchase from the Registration Tent at a cost of £3.00.  Cash, card and contactless is accepted.

Food/Drink:

• There will be a selection of food and drink vendors on the day.  Please note, some may only take cash. There is also a large selection of eateries within the Town centre.

Barbeques:

• Fixed and disposable barbeques are not permitted at this event.

Toilet Facilities:

• Toilets and Portaloos will be available at the event and will be detailed on the map within the programme.
• Please show respect to users of Accessible facilities as not all disabilities are visible.

First Aid:

• Accredited First Aid will be available at the contest area and will be detailed on the map within the programme.

Lost Persons:

• Please report any lost persons immediately to any Branch officials on duty or at the RSPBANI van.

Drones:

• Drones are not permitted to be flown above any crowd or public event.  This restriction applies to all drones, regardless of size and weight.  This is to ensure public safety and to minimise the risk of accidents or injuries.

Litter:

• Please dispose of all litter in the bins provided around the contest area and band practice/tuning area.  Bands are responsible for clearing any practice space they occupy at the end of the event.

Dogs:

• Assistance dogs are welcome at this event.
• Well-behaved dogs are also welcome but must be kept on a short lead and must be able to cope with large crowds and loud noises.
• Please ensure any dogs barking does not interfere with performances.
• Owners must clean up after their dogs and dispose of the waste in the appropriate bins.

Unacceptable Behaviour:

• This event is made possible with the help of our volunteers who are on duty to help and assist you – please demonstrate respect to them always.
• There is a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse of our volunteers and event officials.

Recording & Photographs:

• Video recordings, audio recordings or photographs are not permitted without written permission from The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch prior to the commencement of the Championships.

Visit Causeway Coasts & Glens

• For things to see and do around Portrush and the wider borough area click here

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For any general event queries, please email contests@rspbani.org.
For specific Band/Drum Major queries, please email secretary@rspbani.org.

Playing Requirements

Closing date for entries: Monday 14th July 2025

Draw

Band Draw is available here

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Drum Major Draw is available here

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Results

Results summaries will be available here after the contest ends