Ballymena to host pipers

Ballymena will welcome dozens of pipe bands and hundreds of supporters when it hosts the County Antrim Pipe Band Championships in 2015.

By The Newsroom

Published 24th Jun 2013, 17:28 BST

Councillors agreed to play hosts after being approached to do so last year by the County Antrim section of the Royal Scottish Pipe Bands Association. Carrickfergus and Larne Councils are hosting the championship in 2013 and 2014.

Giving an update on the 2015 event to members of Ballymena Council’s Community Planning & Wellbeing Committee, last week, Council Officer, Bernie Candlish, pointed out that the cost to Council would total £10,500.

She added that staff have experience in co-ordinating the event following the successful hosting of the Championships at the Showgrounds in 2011.

“The event attracts large numbers of spectators and participants from throughout NI, with a total of 31 pipe bands taking part in the 2011 Ballymena competition,” she said.