Bleary backs out of 2005 season

The Grade 1 Bleary & District Pipe Band of Northern Ireland has decided to opt out of competing in 2005 due to lack of numbers.

According to Ian Lawson, vice-chair of the band, “This is due to lack of playing personnel, which has left the band with no other option but to suspend its competition ambitions this year.”

Bleary is one of the pipe band world’s biggest success stories. In nine years the band has risen from Grade 4 to qualifying for the final in Grade 1 at the World Pipe Band Championships last year.

Lawson added, “Even though the band is not competing this season they are still practicing and are available for concerts.”

The band aims to return to the contest field in 2006.

Bleary is the latest Northern Ireland band to cancel its 2005 competition season. Grade 3A Quinn Memorial also announced that it could not field a competitive band, deciding instead to fold.

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