McDonald Memorial Pipe Band

21/10/2026

09/10/2026

🥁 𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗰𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗗 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗜𝗣𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗗? 🎶

As we approach the band's 50th anniversary, we are creating a permanent archive documenting the history of McDonald Memorial Pipe Band, Dromore, from its formation in 1977.

📸 We would love to hear from former members and/or their families who may have:

• Photographs
• Programmes
• Newspaper cuttings
• Competition results
• Recordings
• Memories or stories from their time with the band

🔎 We are particularly keen to identify everyone who played with the senior and junior bands during the band's early years.

Original photographs or memorabilia do not need to be donated — we would be delighted simply to scan or copy them so they can be preserved as part of the band's history.

💬 If you were involved with McDonald Memorial, recognise someone who was, or have anything that could help us piece together the band's story, please send us a private message through the band page or email:

📧 𝗺𝗰𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆@𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

🔄 Please share! We'd love this to reach as many former members and their families as possible.

🎶 𝟱𝟬 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 • 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟳–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 🥁

17/09/2026

𝗣𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱
Commencing October 2026 - Whether you’re a returning student, ready to take on an instrument for the first time or just wanting to take your skills to the next level, we have classes throughout Northern Ireland starting in October.
🎵Our College offers expert tuition in all disciplines - Chanter, Drum Pad, Piping, Snare Drumming, Tenor Drumming, Bass Drumming, Drum Majors and Music Theory.
✅ Classes are open to everyone and to all levels - from beginners to advanced.🎓 Gain recognised qualifications as you learn.✍️ Enrolment is now open on our website, where you can pay online!
👉 𝑬𝒏𝒓𝒐𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚 http://www.rspbani.org/enrol
📨 Any queries [email protected]

10/09/2026

🎵 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 | 𝟏𝟎 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 💙

Today, we remember those we have lost to su***de and stand alongside everyone who has been affected.

Sadly, su***de has touched our pipe band community, with families, and bands having experienced the devastating loss of someone they cared about.

Behind every band uniform is a person. Someone with their own struggles, worries, pressures and challenges — some of which may not always be visible to those around them.

Today is a reminder to 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

Take the time to listen. Notice when someone doesn't seem themselves. A simple “𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨?” could be the conversation starter someone needs.
Sometimes, simply knowing that someone cares can make a difference.

If you are struggling, please don't suffer in silence. Reach out to someone you trust and talk about how you're feeling. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞.

Let’s make our pipe band community a place where everyone feels supported, valued and able to speak openly about their mental health.

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧. 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. 💙

13/06/2026

Congratulations to our Drum Majors Libby & Christopher who took part in the United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships today.

This was the first Major Championship for both of them.

09/06/2026

Lovely to see our Novice Drum Major Libby helping to promote the United Kingdom Championships!

Both Libby and our Juvenile DM Christopher will be taking part in the United Kingdom Championships in Belfast on Saturday.

⏳ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐈𝐬 𝐎𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 & 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬!

The second major championship of the season returns to Northern Ireland on Saturday, with a brand-new venue playing host to the event – 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤, Belfast. Northern Ireland has been a regular home of the United Kingdom Championships since it was first established in 2014, and we look forward to another fantastic day of competition.

Over 60 bands and 40 Drum Majors will compete for the prestigious title of United Kingdom Champion in their respective grades.

A huge thank you to the members of Ballyboley, Down Pipes & Drums, Hollymount and McDonald Memorial who braved the January weather to help capture this promotional photograph. Here's hoping the sunshine makes an appearance at Grove Park this weekend! ☀️

🎟️ Tickets are available online: https://unitedkingdom2026.eventbrite.co.uk

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch RSPBA - Dundee, Perth and Angus Branch RSPBA - North of Scotland Branch RSPBA Glasgow & West of Scotland Branch Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway Branch of RSPBA Rspba L&B Branch RSPBA London & South of England RSPBA North East England Irish Pipe Band Association
The Big Rab Show

06/06/2026

Great to see a wee drum major from McDonald Memorial Pipe Band out getting some practice in at Grove Playing Fields ahead of the United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships next Saturday. As Roy Castle used to say, 'dedication's what you need if you want to be a record breaker!' If you want to come along and see all the great bands, drum majors and lots besides, get your tickets now!

https://UnitedKingdom2026.Eventbrite.co.uk

Please like and share.

03/06/2026

It's with immense sorrow we share the passing today of our Band President Norman McDonald Snr. Father to Chairman & PS Norman McDonald Jnr , Grandad to Alexander Orr , Uncle, Great-Uncle, and friend to many of our members and supporters.

Norman Snr was one of the bands original founding members and pipers. Well known in many pipe band circles, he embraced the social side and camaraderie of the competitive pipe band scene. Those who knew him will no doubt have their own treasured memories and stories to tell 😊

We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to Normans wider family circle and friends. This legend will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all who knew him. 💔

https://www.funeraltimes.com/norman-mauricemcdonald384051431

23/05/2026

First competition of the season for Libby. She took part in the Novice Drum Major competition today.

Christopher also took part in the Juvenile Drum Major competition.

Well done to both our DMs for competing in challenging conditions.

16/05/2026

Congratulations to Christopher who placed 1st in the Juvenile DM grade in Donabate today 🥇