News

Field Set for GAIF Bagpipe Event

June 30, 2009

A total of 16 bands have registered to take part in the 2009 Great American Irish Festival EUSPBA Sanctioned Bagpipe Competition to be held on July 25 - over twice the number of entrants in the inaugural event last year. Included in that number will be a band that can lay claim to the title of best bagpipe band in America. One of only three Grade One bands in the country, Oran Mor has posted recent competition wins over the other two Grade One units, beating the LA Scots at the Queen Mary Festival in California in February and besting The City of Washington Pipe Band at the Bonnie Brae Competition on June 6th. The competition, held on the Saturday of the July 24-26 festival at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds, will feature the following participants, who will all join for an inspiring massed march at the close of the competition:

Grade Five:
Galloway Gaelic Pipe Band, Lake Luzerne, NY; The Berkshire Highlanders of Pittsfield, MA; Albany Police Pipes and Drums, Albany, NY; NYS Corrections Emerald Society Pipe Band, Albany, NY; Scotia-Glenville Pipe Band, Scotia, NY; Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band, Syracuse, NY; Mohawk Valley Frasers, Rome, NY; Fingerlakes Pipe Band, Ithaca, NY

Grade Four:

Caledonian Pipes and Drums, Buffalo, NY; Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band, Syracuse, NY; Schenectady Pipe Band, Schenectady, NY; Mohawk Valley Frasers, Rome, NY; Feadan Or Pipe Band, Rochester, NY

Grade Three:

Mohawk Valley Frasers, Rome, NY; Scotia Glenville Pipe Band, Scotia, NY

Grade One:

Oran Mor Pipe Band, Albany, NY