Major WW1 centenary concert in Cookstown

Cookstown District Council has come together with the Northern Ireland Branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association to present a concert on Friday 24th October at the Burnavon, Cookstown to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Oct 2014, 18:35 BST
WW1 concert in CookstownWW1 concert in Cookstown
WW1 concert in Cookstown

The Cookstown Council area has significant links to the First World War and the evening’s programme is dedicated to remembering the lives of those who lived, fought and died in the Great War through the music, tunes and songs of the period.

Two-and-a-half thousand pipers served in the Great War; men from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Over five hundred of these men never returned home.

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Two pipers were awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery and many other medals were presented to these courageous men.

The programme will feature tunes composed by some of the greatest pipers of 1914 – 1918, all of whom served in the trenches in France, including William Ross, William Lawrie and George Stewart McLennan. Their popular compositions will be performed by Pipe Major Ian Burrows and Pipers from Ballybriest, Cloughfin, Matt Boyd and Tullylagan Pipe bands, as well as celebrated Uilleann Piper, Chris McMullan.

There is great variety in the programme with the songs from the First World War sung by well-known baritone Karl McGuckin, the Willie Drennan Folk Band performing excerpts from their Somme CD and the local Tamlaghmore Silver Band leading a sing-along as well as playing tunes from the period.

Tickets are on sale priced at £10 per seat and are available from Burnavon Theatre Box Office: Tel 028 8676 9949 or online at www.burnavon.com

Related topics:IrelandScotland