The first live streaming of a piping competition held in the Western Isles has been hailed a huge success, with 1,800 viewers tuning in from around the world.
Viewers of the the Pipe Major Donald Macleod MBE Memorial Competition, held in Stornoway, came from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain.
The Lewis and Harris Piping Society, which runs the competition, said the live audience in the Caladh Hotel was bigger this year, particularly for the ‘light music’ in the afternoon, when the Garry ballroom had to be opened out at the back, to allow for extra seating.
The Pipe Major Donald Macleod MBE Memorial Competition is an invitational competition, with eight pipers taking part based on their form at major competitions through the year.
It celebrates the musical legacy of Donald Macleod – a famous piper, composer, tutor and Pipe Major of the Seaforth Highlanders – who came from Stornoway.
Competitors play mostly Donald Macleod compositions, and holding the event in Stornoway is a crucial part of the competition’s heritage.
The pipers taking part this year were Willie McCallum, Roddy Macleod MBE, Callum Beaumont, Stuart Liddell, Glenn Brown, Finlay Johnston, Iain Speirs and Dr Peter McCalister.
Finlay Johnston won the competition and Stuart Liddell came second. Mr Johnston also won the March, Strathspey and Reel section, while Mr Liddell won the Hornpipe and Jig. The Ceol Mor, piobaireachd, was won by Callum Beaumont.
Dr John Smith, chairman of the Lewis and Harris Piping Society and Fear an Tighe of the competition, said: “I’m very pleased with the way the live stream went. I think it will generate more support for what we consider to be one of the most important competitions in the piping circuit.
“We are hugely indebted to Point and Sandwick Trust for their generosity and for ensuring the competition can be run in Stornoway where it should be run – Donald Macleod’s birthplace.”
The live streaming was managed by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Multi-Media Unit, with sound engineering by Keith Morrison of Wee Studio.
The live stream was broadcast on www.piobdm.com and will be retained for future reference and accessible via the Multi-Media Unit’s e-Storas website.
