Tomás O Donnchadha (Runaí Onorach Connolly Pipe Band, 17 High Street, Dublin) writes:
The Band Competitions
Allow me to correct a mis-statement regarding the Pipe Band Competitions.
The Connolly Pipers who were victors in the three droned contest, had the same number of opponents to meet as those in the two-droned competition.
It is to be hoped that in the future the Oireachtas will not repeat the farce of two and three drones.
It would be just as sensible to have a competition for pipes with different coloured ribbons as to continue this farce.
As a matter of fact the winners of the three drone competition played only two drones. There can not be two pipe band Champions of Ireland and Connolly Pipers were the only winners at the Oireachtas who were desirous of playing for Senior honours, therefore the Senior Championship of Ireland lies with the Connolly Pipers.
Irish Independent – Saturday 28th June 1924
The Oireachtas Band Competitions
To the Editor ‘ Irish Independent’
Sir – I write to support Tomas O Donnacadh (Connolly Pipers) in his protest re the farce of encouraging the use of the two-drone pipe. Dr Grattan Flood has disposed of the idea that this is an Irish pipe. Certainly the original pipe was a two-drone pipe, but they were two tenor drones, and during the long period that the warpipe was silent in Ireland the Scots added the long bass drone. The present two-drone pipe comprises a bass and a tenor drone, so that it is neither Irish nor Scottish.
There is no piper, I am sure who will not agree that the three-drone pipe is a far superior instrument. I believe that outside of Cork City that there are few of this bastard pipe in use.
Any man who has read the history of the bagpipe will agree that we Irish and Scots have too much in common concerning the instrument to be prejudiced by petty and silly ideas as to whether the pipes (the three-drone) are Irish or Scottish.
Michael O Colgain
10 Valentia Parade, Dublin
26/06/1924
Irish Independent – Saturday 05th July 1924
Piping Competitions
To the Editor ‘ Irish Independent’
Sir – Taken all round the test pieces for the musical competitions at the forthcoming Tailteann games are tolerably good, but I wish to protest against including two Scottish pieces for the Individual Warpipes and one for Irish Pipe bands.
It seems as if a Scottish adjudicator had his finger in the pie.. The two Scots tunes for an Irish war-piper to specialise in are ‘Monymusk’ and ‘Strathspey’ – while even Irish Pipe Bands are also expected to play a Strathspey – and to accentuate the provenance of the selection, competitors are asked to play from a Scottish (Glenn’s) Edition.
Now ‘Monymusk’ is a comparatively modern Scottish dance tune (of no particular value), composed in honour of Sir Archibold Grant of Monymusk, while a ‘Strathspey’ is a lively Scottish dance tune dating from about the year 1778, practically indigenous to Scotland.
I ask the committee could it not have been possible to select suitable Irish airs ? Hundreds are to be had, and why, in any case include Scots airs for Irish pipes.
W H GRATTAN FLOOD
Irish Independent – Friday 25th July 1924
THE TROPHIES
Band Competitions
(Special to the ‘ Irish Independent’)
The trophies for Aonach Tailteann are made up as follows:
18 cups, 49 large gold medals, 181 small gold medals, 113 large silver-gilt medals, 96 small silver-gilt medals, 166 Large silver medals, 172 small silver medals, 136 Large bronze medals, 711 small bronze medals.
The arrangements for the band competitions are now completed. The contests will take place at Ballsbridge from Monday 11th August to Saturday 10th August and the programme will be as follows.
Monday – Flute Bands …………………..
Tuesday 12th August — Pipe Bands
(Adjudicator: Dr S C Bannatyne)
2.30 to 5.30 pm
1. Brian Ború, Cork 2. Lee Pipers, Cork 3. Kells Pipers, Kilkenny 4. St Kevin’s Pipers, Bray,
5. St John’s Ambulance, Dublin, 6. St Joseph’s Boys School, Manchester
7.00 to 10.00 pm
1. St Lawerence Pipers, Howth 2. St Laurence O’Toole’s 3. St Tiernan’s Pipers 4. Fintan Lalor Pipers, Dublin
Wednesday – Civilian Bands Thursday – Military Bands Saturday – Northern Ireland Bands
Friday 15th August — Warpipes ( Individual )
(Adjudicator: Dr S C Bannatyne)
2.30 to 5.30 pm – No 5 (Tipperary), Nos 11 to 18 (inclusive, mostly Cork)
7.00 to 10.00 pm – Nos 1,3,6,7,8,9,10 & 19 (Dublin)
It should be noted that Northern Ireland Pipe Bands and Warpipers were heard on Saturday
Saturday 16th August — Northern Ireland Pipe Bands and Warpipers
(Adjudicator: Dr S C Bannatyne)
2.00 to 2.30 pm Pipe Bands
1. St Malachy’s Irish Warpipers, Belfast 2. Clann Uladh, Belfast
2.30 to 5.30 pm Warpipes Individual – No 2 & 4
Note: Louis Noble indicated that he adjudicated at the 1924 Tailteann Games.
Irish Independent – Wednesday 13th August 1924
The Pipe Bands
The Pipe Band Competition opened at 2.30 pm yesterday at the Show Grounds.
In spite of the unfavourable weather there was a good attendance and the crowd proved very appreciative. Mr C S Bannatyne acted as adjudicator.
The following bands competed in the afternoon session.
Lee Pipers, Cork , Salford Pipers Band, Manchester, Kells Pipers, Kilkenny , St Kevin’s Pipers, Bray,
St John’s Ambulance, Dublin, St Joseph’s Boys School, Manchester.
At the evening session there were four entries – St Lawerence Pipers, Howth, St Laurence O’Toole’s St Tiernan’s Pipers, Fintan Lalor Pipers, Dublin.
The two St Laurence bands were the only ones to appear.
Competitions for pipers and other bands will occupy the remainder of the week and on Saturday the Belfast bands will be heard and the results of the various competitions will then be announced.
Irish Independent – Saturday 30th August 1924
To the Editor ‘ Irish Independent’
Sir – To any piper of experience the results of the Tailteann piping contests must have come as a great surprise and disappointment.
In the band competition the St Laurence O’Toole Band undoubtedly won the first prize, but by no stretch of the imagination could the St John’s Ambulance Band be considered as tying with the Lee Pipers of Cork for second place.
In marching time and general appearance on the field there was, in my opinion and in the opinion of several pipers in whose company I was, no comparison between the two bands.
In magnificence of dress the St John’s Ambulance Band were undoubtedly in advance of Lee Pipers, but on the points for which I and all adjudicators give marks they fell far behind.
In the individual contest it was a great pity that Mr Biggar-Hope was not in costume, as for no other reason could he have lost first place. His piping was of a quality seldom heard outside Dunoon, his style left nothing to be desired and had I been officially connected with the Tailteann Games, I would have done all in my power to have him held back to give an exhibition of piping.
Unfortunately he played in the morning session and many lost the opportunity of hearing pipes played as they should be. If there was any other justification for not awarding first prize to this competitor, Dublin pipers, I am sure, would be glad to hear it.
In my opinion it is impossible for any adjudicator to give a just decision unless the competitors are heard without a break. In the band competitions some were heard on Tuesday afternoon, others on Tuesday night and the remainder on Saturday following. In the individual competitions things were not quite so bad, the competitions being heard on Friday midday and Friday night.
Antoin Ua Cearbhaill
3 Trintonville Road
Sandymount
28th August 1924
Irish Examiner – Monday 1st September 1924
Results of Band Contests
In the case of the band contests at the Tailteann Games, it has been impossible until today to announce the names of the winning bands owing to objections having been lodged in certain cases.
These objections have been most carefully considered by the Musical Committee and their findings were put before the General Purposes Committee of the Tailteann Council, who upheld the decision of the aadjudicator in every case except that of the military bands.
The following are the results: –
……………. Pipe Bands
Winners, St Laurence O’Toole’s, Dublin. Lee Pipers, Cork and St John’s Ambulance, Dublin were adjudged equal in second place.
Individual War Pipes
First Prize, Richard Young, St John’s Ambulance Band, Dublin; second in merit, F J Bigger-Hope, Belfast.
Research more on this
Note: The Tailteann Games or Aonach Tailteann was an Irish sporting and cultural festival held in the Irish Free State in 1924, 1928, and 1932.
