Belfast to host European Pipe Band Championships

Belfast is to host the prestigious European Pipe Band Championships for the next three years.

The first in the trio of events takes place at the Civil Service sports grounds at Stormont on Saturday 31 July, with around 90 top class international pipe bands from all over the world competing, bringing with them more than 25,000 competitors and spectators.

It will be followed by a new addition to the Championships programme, `Pipe Up Belfast` - a week-long festival of piping/drumming and Ulster Scots folk music, culminating with a concert by the world famous Simon Fraser Band and six time World Champions Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band at the Belfast Waterfront on 6 August.

The bid to host the European Pipe Band Championships for the three years between 2010 and 2012 was won by Belfast City Council, and Lord Mayor Naomi Long described securing the competition as yet another tremendous coup for the city.

"Over the past ten years or so, Belfast has developed a growing international reputation for its ability to stage highly successful world-class events, and events such as these are vitally important to the city, not just in terms of our image but also for the economic benefit which they bring.

"Our latest figures show that, in the last year, £6.90 has been generated by every pound which the council has spent on staging major events - such as the hugely successful Tall Ships.

"We estimate that the European Pipe Band Championships will be worth somewhere in the region of £1.3 million to our economy for each of the three years they are here - a vital boost to our retailers, hoteliers and everyone else who will benefit from the council`s decision to bring this prestigious competition to our city," commented the Lord Mayor.

George Ussher, Chairman of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, Northern Ireland Branch and President of the worldwide Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, said he was "thrilled" the European Championships were being held in Belfast and congratulated Belfast City Council on the success of their bid and their support for the piping community.

"I look forward to bringing the very best pipe bands in the world to Belfast for these events, and know they will enjoy a warm welcome and some wonderful hospitality from the city of Belfast," said Mr Ussher.

The Championships are being supported by the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure, through their Events Growth Fund, and Culture Minister Nelson McCausland said:

"It is great to welcome the top bands from Europe to Northern Ireland and I know Belfast City Council are rightly very proud to have attracted the event. I hope that all participants in the competition and the many travelling fans that support the event have an opportunity to enjoy the very warm welcome waiting for them in Belfast, Northern Ireland."

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