Corkin joins Bleary as new leading-drummer

The well known snare drummer Gary Corkin has joined the Grade 1 Bleary & District Pipe Band of Northern Ireland as its Leading-Drummer, after the band’s entire previous drum-corps departed.

According to sources with the band, Corkin brings with him players formerly with the Royal Ulster Constabulary Pipe Band’s drum section of 2000, which under him won the World Drumming Championship title. The new Bleary corps now numbers 10 drummers.

Bleary had to sit out the whole of the 2005 season due to personnel issues, but returned to action in 2006 and finished sixth in the Qualifier at the World Pipe Band Championships, narrowly missing the Grade 1 Final.



“We hope that the appointment of Gary as Leading-Drummer will help take the band to the next level and we hope to make an impact on Grade 1 in 2007,” said Ryan McFarland, a piper with the band.

Gary Corkin has led several drum sections since his days with the RUC, including David Urquhart Travel and the now defunct Glasgow Pipes & Drums.

McFarland added that Nigel Davison continues as Pipe-Major, a post he has held since the 1990s. Davison has taken the band from Grade 4 in 1996 to Grade 1, which it was promoted to in 2004.

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