Northern Ireland to host Hamilton Police for pre-Championship concert

The Grade 2 Hamilton Police Pipe Band of Hamilton, Ontario, as part of the organization’s two-week trip to the United Kingdom in August, will perform in concert in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, on August 3, the day before the Ulster Pipe Band Championships.

The concert is being put on by the Northern Ireland branch of the RSPBA, and the city of Lisburn will hold a civic reception in honour of the band, which in 2007 competes for the first time in Grade 2.

“The Northern Ireland branch has really rolled out the red carpet for us,” said Pipe-Major Peter Aumonier. “We are really looking forward to competing at the Ulster Championships. The quality and depth of the bands, at all levels in Ulster, is well known and respected around the world. The reception that we have already received form Ulster has been remarkable and we truly appreciate the hospitality that has been extended to us.”

Hamilton Police will compete at the Ulster Championships and then the following week at the World Championships in Glasgow. The band also hopes to perform during the Piping Live! festival that week.

George Ussher, chair of the Northern Ireland branch, said, “I am delighted to hear that the Hamilton Police Pipe Band is planning to include the Ulster Championships in their itinerary. This band is well known throughout the world as one of the top quality exponents of piping and drumming. They have many fans here in Northern Ireland who will be so pleased to hear of this planned visit.”

The Hamilton Police organization has expanded to three bands, adding a Grade 4 group to its existing Grade 5 program. The organization now has more than 90 pipers and drummers on its collective roster, with Don Forgan, a homicide detective with the Hamilton Police force, running the teaching program as senior pipe-major.

Hamilton Police was the PPBSO Champion Supreme winner in Grade 3 in 2006, and was upgraded last fall. The band won the drumming prize in Grade 3A at the 2005 World Pipe Band Championships.

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