0:00:02 > 0:00:05Hello, and welcome to the UK City of Culture 2013, Derry, Londonderry,
0:00:05 > 0:00:10who are playing host to the 68th All Ireland Pipe Band Championships.
0:00:33 > 0:00:34We're here in St Columb's Park
0:00:34 > 0:00:38with the second of our programmes from this year's competition.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40It's the first time the Championships have visited
0:00:40 > 0:00:43the Maiden City and over 60 bands have come to Derry
0:00:43 > 0:00:46in search of a prized All Ireland title.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Coming up in the programme, we'll be bringing you the very
0:00:51 > 0:00:55best of the action from this festival of piping.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59We'll introduce you to the woman who won...but didn't.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02We'll meet the band who have risen from the ashes.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06And we'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the world champion,
0:01:06 > 0:01:07who is breathing new life
0:01:07 > 0:01:10into one of the most famous bands in the business.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16As always, the performance rings are the centre of attention.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20The competition is tight and this year, especially in the Grade 2,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24where a famous name has returned with a new lease of life.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25Ralph McLean went to find out more.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32For decades, the fields around the County Down hamlet of Bleary
0:01:32 > 0:01:35have echoed to the sound of the pipes and drums.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40But seven years ago, that sound faded away
0:01:40 > 0:01:43as the band put their pipes back in the box for the last time.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49But today, there's a familiar sound on the wind...
0:01:54 > 0:01:56My name's Nigel Davison
0:01:56 > 0:02:00and I'm the Pipe Major of Bleary & District Pipe Band.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Davisons have been associated with Bleary & District pipe bands
0:02:03 > 0:02:06from the 1960s right up until the present day.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12It was important to get Bleary & District Pipe Band
0:02:12 > 0:02:16back on the road again, because it's in our blood,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19it's who we are, it's our culture and our heritage.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22But several hurdles had to be overcome
0:02:22 > 0:02:24before the Bleary dream could become a reality.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29The problems with getting a band back on the road again is,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32obviously, the cost it takes to run a band,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35plus getting the quality of players in that you need.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39In their hour of need, Bleary turned to the church for inspiration.
0:02:41 > 0:02:42I'm David Brown,
0:02:42 > 0:02:47I'm leading drummer and chairman of Bleary & District Pipe Band.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50I'm also the minister of Castlecaulfield
0:02:50 > 0:02:52and Eglish Presbyterian churches.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57It's hard to attract good players to reforming a band,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01because players will only come to a band that's up and going.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04There's always that suspicion, will the band get out?
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Because many bands have tried to reform
0:03:07 > 0:03:09and they've not been successful.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13Although the band tempted some former players back into the ranks,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16a few key vacancies required a less traditional solution.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23We just put an advert in the Facebook for tenor drummers
0:03:23 > 0:03:24and we got two girls
0:03:24 > 0:03:29who had never, ever played a tenor drum in their lives before.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Tremendous success story, because they won,
0:03:32 > 0:03:33over the last two Saturdays,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36they've won the Best Bass and Tenor sections,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38so they've done tremendously well.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43The search for new talent has also led the band to
0:03:43 > 0:03:46cast their nets beyond the shores of Northern Ireland.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51My name is Jack Williamson and I'm from Topeka, Kansas, in the USA.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55Bleary are the first band to take advantage of a scheme which offers
0:03:55 > 0:04:00talented young overseas musicians the chance to play with Irish bands.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03The main reason I wanted to come to Northern Ireland is
0:04:03 > 0:04:05the standard of play is much higher,
0:04:05 > 0:04:07and I really wanted to jump at the chance
0:04:07 > 0:04:11to help an old band like Bleary get back to its former glory.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15So far, I've had great fun in Northern Ireland,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17playing in a band with a higher standard.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22It's a lot of fun, and playing with a group of such good guys and girls,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25it makes playing in a band a lot more fun.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30So, having overcome some of the early challenges,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33what lies ahead for this born-again band?
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Our aim was first of all to get out on the road,
0:04:36 > 0:04:37and that's what we've done,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40but ultimately we want to get back to where we were in 2005,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43and that's Grade 1 qualifying for the Worlds.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Well, Bleary's next step on this journey
0:04:49 > 0:04:52was in today's Grade 2 competition.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54With seven other bands hoping
0:04:54 > 0:04:57to take home this prestigious All Ireland title,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00it's time to see if those months of practice have paid off.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Next into the ring, Manorcunningham from Letterkenny,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52who have made the short trip over from County Donegal.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:06:31 > 0:06:34One of the many well-supported bands in this grade
0:06:34 > 0:06:37are Aughintober from Castlecaulfield in County Tyrone.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Cullen Pipe Band from County Cork were the first of two bands
0:07:05 > 0:07:08hoping to take the Grade 2 title back to Munster.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:07:31 > 0:07:35And next up, enjoying just their second year in Grade 2,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38St Finbarr's from Cork city.
0:07:38 > 0:07:39PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Moving further north to County Wicklow,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Arklow were next to entertain the crowd.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Another band who are likely to be in the running
0:08:22 > 0:08:25for the Grade 2 Championship are the Pipes and Drums of the PSNI.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Last into the ring today,
0:08:53 > 0:08:58it's the distinctive Royal Stuart tartan of Cottown Pipe Band.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:09:25 > 0:09:29So, as a strong Grade 2 competition comes to an end,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32all that remains is the wait for the results.
0:09:33 > 0:09:39First place, All Ireland champions for 2013, Bleary & District.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:09:42 > 0:09:46A fabulous result for Bleary, the band taking first place overall
0:09:46 > 0:09:49and also winning the Drum and Bass Section prizes.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Yes! Yes! Ha-ha!
0:09:54 > 0:09:56The PSNI were placed second,
0:09:56 > 0:10:00with Manorcunningham and Cullen taking the other two places.
0:10:00 > 0:10:05We've moved up to Ebrington Square to the Drum Major competition.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08It's a skill that takes years of hard work to perfect.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11To become a world champion, you will probably also need
0:10:11 > 0:10:14the will to succeed no matter what gets in the way.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20It takes determination and focus to be a champion.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25Paula Braiden has been a Drum Major since she was seven years old.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30At senior level, she had won every title except the big one.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Certainly the World Championships is every person's dream
0:10:33 > 0:10:37to be involved in, to compete in, and ultimately to win.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41So, I had been second four years consecutively,
0:10:41 > 0:10:46running up to 2011, so I thought, "Oh, definitely has to be my year."
0:10:46 > 0:10:50I'd been in the grade nine years, and I really, really wanted it.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53So I never have counted my chickens before they hatch,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56but I'd this kind of feeling that maybe this was possibly my year.
0:10:56 > 0:11:01So you go into the finale and Ian Embleton, he's the Chief Executive,
0:11:01 > 0:11:06and his voice, it's just that voice that you listen in your dreams for
0:11:06 > 0:11:11every year and you think, "Oh, world champion, Paula Braiden..."
0:11:11 > 0:11:14I don't think I've ever been that excited in my entire life.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Even as a wee kid, you don't really appreciate
0:11:16 > 0:11:18the importance of this event.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23But not winning for nine years and working so hard to get it
0:11:23 > 0:11:28and finally, your name being called, was the most amazing feeling ever.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32So, came up jumping for joy, tears, happiness, laughter
0:11:32 > 0:11:36and Mummy had come over and I just knew by her face,
0:11:36 > 0:11:37I said, "What's wrong?"
0:11:37 > 0:11:42And that year, they'd made a few mistakes in the actual prizes
0:11:42 > 0:11:45and I'd been called out as a winner on two of the local competitions
0:11:45 > 0:11:48and then they had taken the prize off me again.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50So I said to Mum, "No, not again."
0:11:50 > 0:11:53And I just knew, it was like a dagger to the heart,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56I said, "No, Mummy, they can't do this again."
0:11:56 > 0:11:58At that point, I didn't know what I could do.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03All the results were wrong on that particular senior final.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05There was nothing I could do,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08I just had to try and come to terms with the fact
0:12:08 > 0:12:11that the one thing I wanted was no longer mine.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14It must have been really awful for you?
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I felt really humiliated at the fact I'd been called up,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20the cameras were all there, everyone was cheering,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22it was 40,000 spectators.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26I had wanted this so much and I didn't know what I wanted to do,
0:12:26 > 0:12:28did I want to continue?
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Or was it really I'd pushed myself to the point that
0:12:30 > 0:12:33I couldn't give any more, I couldn't possibly have been any better?
0:12:33 > 0:12:36How hard was it getting back in the saddle
0:12:36 > 0:12:40- and deciding to compete again? - I had the most wonderful support.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Everyone rallied round and said, "Look, you've inspired my kids."
0:12:44 > 0:12:46People I didn't even know had contacted me
0:12:46 > 0:12:49and said, "You know, you have to bounce back."
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Movement. Spin. Step, slide.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55'The kids that I teach, again, they were amazing.'
0:12:55 > 0:12:59They came up with wee letters and wee drawings, to say,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02"You're the best tutor in the world."
0:13:02 > 0:13:05I actually could still cry thinking of the amount of people that
0:13:05 > 0:13:09went to the effort of writing me a card, sending me a letter,
0:13:09 > 0:13:10putting something on Facebook
0:13:10 > 0:13:14or just sending me a message to say they were thinking of me.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17And you did come back, 2012, you were crowned the world champion.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21What did it feel like, to finally have it back in your hands?
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Amazing, but I can't take away from the fact that I was nervous
0:13:24 > 0:13:27and whenever the results were being given out,
0:13:27 > 0:13:29I could feel myself moving back from the line.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31I think I was in the middle of a Scottish band
0:13:31 > 0:13:35before they even give out the name, whoever had won.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39'And world champion for 2012...
0:13:39 > 0:13:42'Paula Braiden, Cullybackey.'
0:13:42 > 0:13:44When they called out my name, I was marching up.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48I remember saying to the steward, "Is it me? Are you sure it's me?"
0:13:48 > 0:13:51So, until I got the trophy in my hand, I wasn't fully...
0:13:51 > 0:13:54I didn't fully appreciate that I actually had won the Worlds
0:13:54 > 0:13:57and this time, I wasn't giving it back!
0:13:59 > 0:14:01And Paula was back in action today
0:14:01 > 0:14:04as she defended her All Ireland Senior title.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08But it was a day of mixed emotions.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Although Paula had to settle for the runners-up place
0:14:10 > 0:14:12in the Senior Championships,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14she did have the joy of watching one of her pupils,
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Stephen Gilchrist, win his first All Ireland title.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Let's get back to the music as we have a look at Grade 3a.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31And we'll start with the reigning world champions,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Ballybriest Pipe Band from County Tyrone.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Next up, it's Raffrey Pipe Band from County Down.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37This year is the band's 80th anniversary,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40so could they celebrate with a winning performance?
0:15:40 > 0:15:43PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Next into the ring, it's the distinctive green kilts
0:16:29 > 0:16:31of St Laurence O'Toole from Dublin.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Also from County Down, Annsborough have been going well all season.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Could this be another prize-winning performance?
0:17:34 > 0:17:36PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:18:19 > 0:18:23And those four bands claimed the top spots in this year's competition.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Raffrey were crowned champions, with Ballybriest, Annsborough
0:18:26 > 0:18:30and St Laurence O'Toole collecting the rest of the silverware.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Derry is very proud of its famous musical sons and daughters
0:18:36 > 0:18:41and top of that list in the world of piping has to be Ryan Canning.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44But this year, the six-time world champion
0:18:44 > 0:18:47has taken on the biggest challenge of his career.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53HE PLAYS HARMONICA
0:18:56 > 0:19:00From an early age, Ryan Canning and his music were inseparable.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03MUSIC CONTINUES
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Feather out. Quick, march!
0:19:05 > 0:19:07But this year, after 16 seasons
0:19:07 > 0:19:11and six world titles with Field Marshal Montgomery,
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Ryan stunned the piping world with the news that it was time to move on.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18It was really difficult to leave Field Marshal.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22I was sad to leave so many good friends and such a successful band,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25but it was the right time for a new challenge.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28The nature of that move,
0:19:28 > 0:19:32taking the reins at out-of-fashion Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia
0:19:32 > 0:19:36surprised even Ryan's closest friends.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37Ryan sent me a text saying,
0:19:37 > 0:19:39"Just giving you a heads up,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42"I'm taking on the role as Pipe Major for Shotts."
0:19:42 > 0:19:45And I laughed hysterically, I thought it was funny,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48because I had just assumed that the band was done.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Like the town whose name it bears,
0:19:51 > 0:19:55the 15-times world champions have seen better days.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59The once thriving Scottish mining community haven't celebrated
0:19:59 > 0:20:03success in a major piping competition since 2005.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07For the new Pipe Major, there's a job to be done.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09I'd thought hard about it, to try to think
0:20:09 > 0:20:12if I'd got what it takes to bring a band up.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14I wouldn't want to take the role on unless I thought
0:20:14 > 0:20:18I could actually take the band to where it needs to go.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Right, come on, good introductions here. He's really good.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24We just need the right tune, and we'll be fine.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27'So, the first challenge is to get the band stabilised
0:20:27 > 0:20:30'and on a steady footing again,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32'and from there, try and build the band up
0:20:32 > 0:20:35'so that we hopefully can be competing with
0:20:35 > 0:20:37'the likes of Field Marshal,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40'who are of course still at the very pinnacle of the whole game.'
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Ryan had met his wife Megan when they both played in Field Marshal.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50She had left her home in California just to play with the Lisburn band,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52so in the wake of Ryan's departure,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55a few other difficult conversations lay ahead.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Whenever I made the difficult phone call to Richard Parks
0:21:02 > 0:21:07to tell him I was leaving Field Marshal, he asked about Megan.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10For me it was like choosing between your hero and your husband.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13One of the strengths of Field Marshal is that they have lots of great players
0:21:13 > 0:21:15and will continue to have great players,
0:21:15 > 0:21:19and I just felt that at the critical point for Ryan,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23it was the right thing to support him in a new venture.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26With one challenge conquered, what was next?
0:21:26 > 0:21:29One of the other goals in the band as a marker of how well we're doing
0:21:29 > 0:21:33is if we're attracting good players wanting to join,
0:21:33 > 0:21:37and hopefully that happens through people seeing the band
0:21:37 > 0:21:41acting in the right manner, playing good music, sounding well.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44And I think, so far, we've achieved that.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47There shouldn't be mistakes. Ever.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Not this time of year.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53'Taking on Shotts is the hardest thing he's ever had to do.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56'I mean, I've noticed a huge change in the last nine months.'
0:21:56 > 0:22:00He'll think about the band all the time, he listens to recordings all the time,
0:22:00 > 0:22:04he'll wake up in the middle of the night thinking about things and going through things in his head.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06I think he's managing it very well, though.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Something happened there.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15So, what's the endgame for Ryan's new challenge?
0:22:15 > 0:22:17A band like Shotts & Dykehead,
0:22:17 > 0:22:20nobody should ever take a Pipe Major job in a band like this
0:22:20 > 0:22:23unless the goal is to win a World Championship
0:22:23 > 0:22:26or as many World Championships as possible.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30But in case that success ever goes to Ryan's head,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33his wife will help him to keep his feet on the ground.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Just like any other player, I would never question him.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40What he says goes. Ryan is the boss, this is his domain here.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44And at home it's a different matter. I'm the boss at home.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50I'm sure there are great things ahead for Shotts.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52We'll watch that space.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Back to our All Ireland action as we round up
0:22:54 > 0:22:56the prize-winners in Grade 3b.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:23:39 > 0:23:42- TANNOY:- 'Just for your attention, a lady has lost her camera today
0:23:42 > 0:23:45'down at the bottom of the arena somewhere.'
0:23:45 > 0:23:48After another tight competition, New Ross & District
0:23:48 > 0:23:52added another All Ireland title to their portfolio.
0:23:52 > 0:23:53Tullylagan were the runners up,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56with Syerla & District finishing in third place.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00Playing on home ground, Colmcille from Derry took fourth.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Perhaps the farthest travelled visitors to this year's
0:24:07 > 0:24:11All Ireland are the Scotch College Band from Melbourne, Australia.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14They're on a tour of Europe and paid a visit to the Maiden City
0:24:14 > 0:24:17on their way to the World Championships.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20It's only once in a lifetime that you really get
0:24:20 > 0:24:23this sort of opportunity to come over to a country
0:24:23 > 0:24:27and a culture that prides itself on pipes and drums
0:24:27 > 0:24:28and, you know, I took the opportunity
0:24:28 > 0:24:31and I really, really am starting to experience the culture
0:24:31 > 0:24:34and I love it here.
0:24:34 > 0:24:35Will, your first time in Ireland,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38what are your thoughts on the competition here?
0:24:38 > 0:24:40Oh, it's a lot different to what we have in Australia.
0:24:40 > 0:24:41There's a lot more people here.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44There's just so many more stalls
0:24:44 > 0:24:48and a lot of high-quality bands, which we're just not used to seeing.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50It's really good to see them up close and personal.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52How important is it for you guys
0:24:52 > 0:24:54as a band in down Australia to experience this?
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Yeah, it's really important to us, even if we want to come back here
0:24:58 > 0:25:00just to get the whole culture
0:25:00 > 0:25:03and see that it's a lot different to what we have in Australia,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06with bigger bands, and a lot more people participating.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10And the Scotch College Band received a warm welcome from the Derry crowd
0:25:10 > 0:25:12as they took their place in the competition ring -
0:25:12 > 0:25:15the perfect way to start our round up
0:25:15 > 0:25:17of the Grade 4 Championships.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19PIPE BAND PLAYS
0:27:17 > 0:27:21'The Scots College Pipes and Drums from Australia...'
0:27:21 > 0:27:24At the end of a keen contest,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27the popular Australian visitors came very close to taking
0:27:27 > 0:27:29the Grade 4a title back to Melbourne,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32winning second place overall and taking the prizes
0:27:32 > 0:27:36for the Best Bass Section and for Marching and Deportment.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41There was more a local success as Tullintrain from Claudy
0:27:41 > 0:27:43won the Grade 4a title.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47Marlacoo and Cullybackey took the other two places.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51In Grade 4b, Raphoe won another close competition,
0:27:51 > 0:27:54with Battlehill taking second place.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58St Patrick's from Bandon were third and Ballydonaghy fourth.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02That brings our All Ireland highlights to a close.
0:28:02 > 0:28:03Well done to our winners
0:28:03 > 0:28:06and good luck to our bands travelling to Scotland
0:28:06 > 0:28:08to compete in the World Championships.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Of course if you can't make it to Glasgow,
0:28:11 > 0:28:13don't forget you can catch the action from the Grade 1 arena
0:28:13 > 0:28:15live on the BBC website.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20But for now, from all of us here in the City of Culture, bye-bye.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd