Tartan Talk: Musical night with a difference in Ballymoney - all the latest news from the Northern Ireland pipe band scene

This month they are having a musical night with a difference with Smallpipes, fiddles and an accordion taking part.

If you can play an instrument then why not go along and join in for a night’s entertainment.

Christmas carols and jumpers will be both welcome and encouraged.

The event will be held in the Old School House, St Patrick's Church, Ballymoney at 7.30pm.

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Ashley McMichael is December Blackthorn guest piper

Next Wednesday night (December 17), the Blackthorn Pipers’ December guest piper will be Ashley McMichael, who is one of Ireland’s leading solo pipers.

A multiple All-Ireland, Ulster and NI Piper of the Year, he has also had considerable success in Scotland and recently he was placed third in the A Grade Piobaireachd at the Scottish Piping Society of London.

This is the Christmas edition of the Pipers Society and it has traditionally been a super night with Christmas jumpers, carols, traditional fayre and many a great laugh.

The action gets underway at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) in the Ulster Scots Community Building at 1-9 Victoria Street, Belfast BT1 3GA.

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Christmas Craft Fair with The Force Drum Major team

As part of its fundraising activity, the Force Drum Major Team have organised a Christmas Craft Fair which will be held on Saturday, December 20 from 10am to 2pm in the McKinney Hall, Tobermore.

The group recently had a craft stall at a fair which was a great success so now they are hosting their very own.

They extend a warm invitation for you to join them for handmade treasures, yummy bakes and cakes, steaming tea/coffee, and music that'll have you jingling all the way.

The entry fee is just £2 and it is expected that there will be around 20-25 stalls packed with unique handmade crafts, perfect for snagging those one-of-a-kind gifts while soaking up the Christmas magic – and there might even be a few guest surprises!

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RSPBA NI Branch 75th Anniversary Dinner

At the RSPBA NI Branch Annual General Meeting on Saturday, November 29, it was announced that the highlight of its 75th year celebrations would be a formal 75th Anniversary Gala Dinner to be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the La Mon Hotel & Country Club.

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RSPBANI World Champion presentations

Also at the aforementioned RSPBA NI Branch Annual General Meeting, which was held in Cookstown, NI Branch President Mrs Betty Booth presented special awards honouring its 2024 and 2025 World Champions, recognising their dedication, talent, and success on the world stage.

The NI Branch proudly celebrates the outstanding World Championship successes of our bands, Drum Majors, and solo players each year.

The recipients for 2024 were Irvine Memorial [Grade 4A World Champions]; Louise Smiton (Closkelt) - Juvenile Drum Major World Champion; Charlotte Ruddock (Battlehill) - Adult Drum Major World Champion; Ashley Steele (Hollymount) - Juvenile 1 Snare World Solo Champion; and Jamie Coffey (Field Marshal Montgomery) - Juvenile 4 Snare World Solo Champion.

Absent from the presentations were Ravara – Grade 2 (2024 World Champions) and Ethan Young [Syerla & District] - Juvenile 3 Snare World Solo Champion.

The 2025 presentations were to Lydia Todd (McNeillstown) - Junior Drum Major World Champion; Ben Dickson (Drumlough) - Juvenile Drum Major World Champion; Jamie Cupples [Ravara] - Adult Drum Major World Champion; Lucy Semple (Hollymount) - Tenor Section A World Solo Champion; Matthew Brownlee (Syerla & District) - Juvenile 3 Snare World Solo Champion; Jamie Coffey (Field Marshal Montgomery - Juvenile 4 Snare World Solo Champion; and Henry Turkington [Down Academy] - Juvenile 1 Snare World Solo Champion.

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2026 Kids with Cancer Charity Concert line-up announced

Gary Smyth and his team have announced the line-up for the 2026 Kids with Cancer Charity concert in the Royal Hotel Cookstown on Saturday, March 28.

The headline act will be Police Scotland Fife which will be the first time this band will have performed in a concert format in Northern Ireland.

Led by Pipe Major David Wilton and Leading Drummer Mick O’Neill they have been consistently in the Grade 1 prize list and are practising hard for this event.

Drummers appearing are world champions Henry Turkington, Matthew Brownlee, Jamie Coffey and Tenor drummer Lucy Semple, plus the Killed Cousins Dean Smyth, Calum Smyth, Ewan Smyth and Jaxon Smyth.

World champion drum majors Jamie Cupples, Lydia Todd and Ben Dickson, the Michelle Johnston School of Highland Dancing, and the Mid Ulster Drum Major Academy under the leadership of Kara Gilmour, will also feature.

Please save the date and come along and help Gary Smyth and his team raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Over the past 8 years the pipe band family have raised £89,055 and this is the chance to reach £100k.

Another top act will be announced in January – however, for now you are asked to save the date for what has become the biggest pipe band concert event in any year.