Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band Grade 4B and Drumming World Champions 2026.
Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band Grade 4B and Drumming World Champions 2026.
Bready is a small village in County Tyrone on the main Victoria A5 road 6 miles from Londonderry. Its previous call to fame was to be associated with Ulster-Scot Oliver Pollock (1737–1823) the 18th-century American Revolutionary War financier and patriot. The man who created the famous Dollar $ symbol.
To that great legacy can now be added the home of Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band Grade 4B World Champions and World Champion Drumming Corps 2026.
On Saturday the 15th August at the historic Glasgow Green in Glasgow, Scotland at the World Pipe Band Championships lead by Pipe Major Robert Campbell and Leading Drummer Richard Campbell the Band really did Bready, County Tyrone and indeed all of Northern Ireland proud.
The only band from Northern Ireland to qualify in Grade 4B, they then lifted the biggest prize in Pipe Band Competitions the title of World Champions. To add to the success they also lifted best Drum Corps in the final of twelve with 3.3.1.2. Both these wins despite intense competition shows how good a performance Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band gave on the world stage.
Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band are in their 97th year and are also Ulster Champions at Grade 4B now for the second year in a row. The Band’s very impressive accomplishments come from many hours of hard work, practice and perfecting of the amazing skills from every member of the band together with those working to support of the band in the background.
On Tuesday evening Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band at their home in the Sollus Centre, Bready held an open band practice which allowed the local community and indeed those from further afield a chance to see, hear and congratulate the band on their great success with the building full. A local poet and past band member Johnny Connor composed a special poem in celebration.
To me as an Ulster-Scot and historian there is something just so special about the sound of the pipes, they are a living link with the great history we have as Ulster-Scots. A history as a people that changed the world for the better that is unmatched in human history. And like the Dollar symbol ($) that Bready is associated with and that represents success, achievement and the tangible reward of hard work that hard work has paid off big time for Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band.
Our marching band tradition is simply world-class and world beating and that has been shown once again by Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band, 2026 Grade 4B world Champions and World Champion Drum Corps. Well done on a long to be remembered victory and in celebration I also penned a little poem.
In twenty, twenty six; a year of history and fame,
Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band; the celebrated name.
From Bready Sollus; pipes and drums along Foyle gleam,
They journeyed north to chase a world championship dream.
From village streets to world stage; grand and wide,
Ulster Champions they shone; in perfect musical pride.
At Glasgow Green, the crowds did clap and sway,
As the finest of Bready stepped out that historic day.
The judges watched, their faces stern and keen,
As Bready Pipe Band poured forth their hearts; seen.
Years of practice; talent heard in the magic to play,
Pipes and drums in victory would come their way.
World Grade 4B Champions, a prize for all to chase,
Was lifted high in silver at that triumphant Scottish place.
For Bready Ulster Scots in County Tyrone's own glorious light,
World Grade 4B Pipe Band Champions; now shining globally bright.
Stevan D. T. Patterson, Castlederg, Co. Tyrone..