LATEST NEWS


3rd January 2012
ST.LAURENCE O'TOOLE DEVELOPMENT BAND - NEW WEBSITE
A new website for our development band - which will play in Grade 3A for the 2012 season - has been uploaded and is now "live"
You can view the new site at the following url - http://www.slotpb.com/slotdev/
Take a look and see if you like it ;-)

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13th December 2011
RSPBA VENUES AND  PLAYING REQUIREMENTS 2012
Please note, this is not a list of competitions that SLOT will be attending but a full listing of all RSPBANI local competitions and the All-Ireland, which is jointly run by both IPBA/RSPBANI associations.

2012	BANBRIDGE	NEWTOWNARDS	ENNISKILLEN	BALLYMONEY	COOKSTOWN	BANBRIDGE	NEWCASTLE	ALL-IRELAND	BANGOR
GRADES	05-May	12-May-12	26-May-12	02-Jun-12	09-Jun-12	16-Jun-12	23-Jun-12	07-Jul-12	21-Jul-12
3B	MED	MSR	MED	MSR	MED	MSR	MED	MSR	MED
3A	MSR	MED	MSR	MED	MSR	MED	MSR	MSR	MED
2	MSR	MSR	MED	MSR	MED	MSR	MED	MED	MSR
1	MED	MED	MSR	MED	MSR	MSR/MED	MSR	MSR/MED	MSR
2012	DUNGANNON	WORLDS	PORTRUSH
GRADES	04-Aug-12	11-Aug-12	18-Aug-12
3B	MSR	MSR	MED
3A	MSR	MSR	MED
2	MED	MED	MED
1	MSR/MED	MED/MSR	MED

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24th November 2011
PIPER BRIAN WILLIAMS R.I.P.
The band extend their sincere sympathies to the family and friends of the late Brian Williams of Slievemore Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, who played with the band in the 80's.
Brian will be very sadly missed by his loving family, his dad Dermot, loving partner Bernice, daughters Courtney and Sinead, sister, brothers, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, his granddaughter Megan, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

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7th November 2011
SCOTTISH PIPING SOCIETY OF LONDON: 2011
Congratulations to Sean Moloney on winning the MSR – Highland Society of London Targe, at the Amateur Piping Competitions (CLASP GRADE 1)
Sean is currently a drummer with SLOT,but he's also pretty handy on a set of pipes ;-)

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22nd October 2011
WORLD SOLO DRUMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 : RESULTS
Congratulations to Stephen Creighton and his son,Glen,who placed 6th in the Senior and U16 grades.

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17th September 2011
ALL-IRELAND SOLO PIPING & DRUMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 : RESULTS
Congratulations to all the SLOT pipers & drummers that were successful at the All-Ireland Solos

• Rachel Corr - Intermediate Piping 1st
• Glen Creighton - U16 Drumming 2nd
• Kevin Rogers - Senior Piping 3rd

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14th August 2011
WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 : RESULTS
Field Marshal Montgomery of Belfast are the 2011 World Pipe Band Champions......and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Richard and his band on their fine performance - bringing their total number of World Champions wins to seven since they first won it in 1992.
We made a valiant attempt to retain our title, but unfortunately, for a variety of reasons it wasn't to be........so,roll on 2012 ;-)

Grade 1 - Overall
1 - Field Marshal Montgomery
2 - Simon Fraser University
3 - Scottish Power
4 - Inverary & District
5 - St.Laurence O'Toole 
6 - Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia

Best MSR - Field Marshal Montgomery
Best Medley - Field Marshal Montgomery
Best Drums - The House of Edgar : Shotts and Dykehead

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9th August 2011
WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 - LIVE STREAM
For the third year running BBC Scotland's live web stream brings you a ringside seat at Glasgow Green's Grade One Arena.
Coverage begins at 0900 BST on Saturday 13th August and continues right through to the winners' announcement.

Click on the link below to access the live video stream
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/worlds/2011/

As in previous years this is the draw number for the bands entered into Grade 1.
Bands will retain this draw number through qualifier and finals.

Grade 1 - Playing Numbers
01. The 78th Fraser Highlanders - Canada
02. Canterbury Caledonian Society - New Zealand
03. Lothian and Borders Police
04. Scottish Power
05. Los Angeles Scots - USA
06. Peel Regional Police - Canada
07. St Laurence O'Toole - Eire
08. Dowco Triumph Street - Canada
09. Cullybackey
10. Robert Wiseman Dairies Vale of Atholl
11. Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia
12. Strathclyde Police
13. Torphichen and Bathgate
14. Dysart and Dundonald
15. Simon Fraser University - Canada
16. The House of Edgar Shotts and Dykhead
17. Oran Mor - USA
18. Fife Constabulary
19. Field Marshal Montgomery
20. Manawatu Scottish Society - New Zealand
21. Inveraray and District

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5th August 2011
PIPES OF PEACE CONCERT @ SECC,GLASGOW
Those planning to attend the week-long events preceding the 2011 World Pipe Band Championships will need to set aside a little more money, as another major pipe band concert has been added to the slate with the "Pipes of Peace" concert at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) showcasing a quintuple bill of top-tier talent.
 
Both the Simon Fraser University and St. Laurence O'Toole pipe bands will serve as the headline acts at the event on Thursday, August 11th, at 7:30 pm at the 3,000-seat Clyde
Auditorium, known as the "Armadillo" because of its distinctive Sydney Opera House-like exterior.

The Grade 2 Lomond & Clyde Pipe Band and the pop piping and drumming group Celtic Spirit will also take the stage, as will Bob Worrall of Canada, who will play solo. The concert is being sponsored by R.G. Hardie & Co. and organized by Jason Prentice of Celtic Spirit.
 
The concert is not part of the Piping Live! schedule of events, and it follows the night after the traditional "Pre-World's" concert staged by the Phoenix Honda-Glasgow Skye Pipe Band at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, which this year has the Grade 1 ScottishPower Pipe Band as the marquee act.
 
"As a pipe-major, I am constantly looking for ways to motivate people, to keep everyone in the band fresh and focused," said Pipe-Major Terry Tully of St. Laurence O'Toole, when asked to comment on the event. "The prospect of participating in a joint concert with the Simon Fraser University band, six-time World Champions, ticks all those boxes. It also provides a great opportunity for the public, with two (of the many) contenders for the World's title in direct comparison with one another so close to August 13th. We've always had great respect for the Simon Fraser University band. Hopefully this venture will only serve to strengthen the rapport between both bands."
 
Both SFU and SLOT have performed at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall concert at least twice each in the past.
 
Tickets to the Pipes of Peace concert are priced at £18.50 and are available online at www.ticketsoup.com and the SECC Box Office at 0844 395 4000

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31st July 2011
EUROPEAN PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS - BELFAST : RESULTS
The Grade One band,once again,finished second overall.
An excellent performance in what were beautiful conditions........though being first band on is never easy.
Our drum corp also finished up second on the day.

The live streaming of the event turned out to be a bit of a disaster as the servers couldn't handle the traffic.
On the plus side though, the recording will be made available for download.
The following message is posted on the RSPBANI website......
The partners of this project would like to offer an apology to all those who were unable to access the live broadcast.
Numbers exceeded expectations by a huge margin. This is something we have taken on board and will fix for future broadcasts.
A recording of the broadcast will be available for download on Monday, August 2nd at www.ljhs.tv

Full results for all grades can be found on the RSPBA website.

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24th June 2011
BRITISH PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS - ANNAN : RESULTS
The Grade One band finished second overall with a good performance in what were overcast but dry conditions - a change from Dumrbarton !
Our drum corp were crowned British Champions 2011, taking their second major trophy of the season, so far.

The Grade 3B band had a brilliant result - in what was their first major championship performance.
Cleaned up......winning the competition overall and also the best drum corp prize.
British Champions 2011 in Grade 3B
Congratulations to everyone in the band.

See below for the performance of both bands on Youtube.

Full results for all grades can be found on the RSPBA website.

The Grade One performance..........

The Grade 3B winning performance..........

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28th May 2011
FERMANAGH CHAMPIONSHIPS,ENNISKILLEN - RESULTS
The Co Fermanagh Championships were held today in a rather fresh windy day but none the less the event went very well indeed.
SLOT 3B put in their first appearance north of the border and came away with the silverware.
Congratulations to all involved ;-)

Grade 3B
1 - St.Laurence O'Toole
2 - Colmcille   
3 - Gransha   
4 - Matt Boyd Memorial
5 - Moneygore   
6 - Ballydonaghy   
7 - Marlacoo

Best Drums : Gransha

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12th January 2011
PIPES | DRUMS - 2010 NEW YEAR'S HONOURS
pipes|drums Magazine once again ensures that auld acquaintance isn't forgotten by presenting the annual pipes|drums New Year' Honours awards.
Just as the year in news was many in terms of stories, so too were the choices of excellent pipers, drummers bands and recordings over the past 12 months.
We have tapped a panel of 20 canny pipers and drummers around the world for their nominations in several categories for the people, bands and products that made the most news, the biggest impact and the best contributions in the piping and drumming world in 2010. (NB: the editor of pipes|drums was not a panelist.)
Nominations were based on those people, bands and recordings that we felt made the most news, the biggest impact and the best contributions in the piping and drumming world in 2010.
As usual, there are two Piper of the Year categories: one for Solo Competition Piper of the Year, the other for all-round Piper of the Year, taking into consideration of course their work with bands, teaching, festivals and other elements.
The votes are in. The choices have been made. It's all subjective, and that's why we love it, so let the controversy and dialogue commence!
Congratulations to all winners of the pipes|drums New Year's Honours. All nominees are to be congratulated, too. And to our panelists, we thank you for your input.
And the winners are....

PIPE BAND OF THE YEAR
St. Laurence O'Toole
What more can be said about the finest band ever to emerge from the Emerald Isle?
SLOT was a story of perseverance and determination, putting every bit into ultimately gaining the World Pipe Band Championship as any band in history.
A sold-out show at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
The back-stories of the trials and tribulations that SLOT faced over the years made the band's victory that much sweeter, we're sure,
and the band was a unanimous choice by our panel for the 2010 pipes|drums Pipe Band of the Year.
 
Panelists' comments:
"It has to be SLOT, as the first band from Eire to win the World Championships, plus a hugely successful Worlds-week concert."
"St. Laurence O'Toole really has to be the Band of the Year."
"Clear winner not because of the season's results and their first-class Pre-World's concert, but there a great human interest story here that hopefully one day will be told in full.
The sum of the parts over the years made them a clear winner."


DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Stephen Creighton, Dublin 
He led St. Laurence O'Toole to its second World Pipe Band Drumming award in 2010, and brought the consistency and flair needed to help put his band over the top for the big prize.
In a close race, Creighton gets the nod as our 2010 Drummer of the Year.
 
Panelists' comments:
 
"Bravo!"
"The most entertaining corps on the planet."
"Two times now shows nice consistency."

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16th December 2010 {UPDATED}
SLOT - MERCHANDISE
Our new merchandise page is now "live" and open for business.

Available NOW, the highly anticipated CD & DVD from our recent concert in Glasgow - EVOLUTION.
Also up for grabs are the band's original CD from 2005, the 100th anniversary history book and the collage poster, with images of the band over the past one hunderd years.

Ordering the new CD & DVD :
Click here to go direct to the page or click on the Merchandise link in the navigation menu on the left.

Album Foreword by Malcolm M MacKenzie:Producer for KRL
What a week for P/M Terry Tully and his St.Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band.
Starting with winning the prestigious quartet competition on Tuesday August 10th, this was followed by the sellout concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall,which has been acclaimed as the finest concert that there has been since the series began 15 years ago.
Then came the "icing on the cake" on Saturday 14th August when the band "swept the boards" in the Grade One World Pipe Band Championship,winning the MSR and Medley sections,a feat rarely accomplished before.
A magnificent achievement and a fitting award to Terry and his band in this their centenary year.
Now sit back and enjoy a feast of musicianship from the concert,which was a pleasure to be part of.
Malcolm M MacKenzie:Producer for KRL

To get an idea of what to expect on our new DVD, view the promotional video on Youtube.

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10th September 2010
SLOT 100th ANNIVERSARY HISTORY BOOK
There have been a number of requests recently about the history book that we published this year to celebrate the band centenary .........specifically,how to get hold of it.
Well, here's how.....see below

Details the history of the band from it's inception in 1910 to the present day.
The famous names - Sean O'Casey,Padraig Pearse,Thomas Clarke,Douglas Hyde,Arthur Griffith - involved and the people that have brought the band to where it stands today.
It includes stories from past & present members and is a "must have" for any fan of the band or Irish pipe band history in general.

€27.00 - includes postage & packaging to anywhere in the World.

1. By Credit Card using Paypal - secure transaction Price €27.00 (inc.P&P)  Click on the button below

2. Cheque, Postal Order or International Money Order Print the order form and post it with your payment. Send completed form to the following address : Click here for the Book Order Form Price €27.00 (inc. P&P)  St.Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band 260 Glendale Meadows,Leixlip,Co.Kildare, Ireland

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31st August 2010
COWAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 : DUNOON - RESULTS
The usual Cowal weather conditions played havoc - with with heavy rain, sun, more heavy rain, oh look, the sun again.......you get the drift ;-)
Due to the inclement weather conditions,we remained in the band tent until twenty minutes to go, then had to "go for it"
Thankfully, the rain stayed away for the performance of the Big Yin medley.
The band gained 3rd place overall and 2nd in drumming, pipped for 2nd overall on ensemble preference by Field Marshal Montgomery.
Full summary details for all grades can be found on the RSPBA website - click here
Congratulations to Boghall & Bathgate who took both the overall and drumming prizes and also to Inverary & District on getting their first prize (5th) in Grade One.....it won't be their last.

Next up......the band BBQ :-)

Next gig for SLOT is a concert at 17th William Kennedy Piping Festival in Armagh on November 13th at the Market Theatre


Grade 1
 1 - Boghall & Bathgate
 2 - Field Marshal Montgomery
 3 - St.Laurence O'Toole
 4 - Scottish Power
 5 - Inverary & District
 6 - Strathclyde Police

 Best Drums - Boghall & Bathgate

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25th August 2010
SLOT PHOTO GALLERY - WORLD'S 2010
The photo gallery has now been updated - lots of pics from both the World's week concert and the band's win on Glasgow Green.
Many thanks to those that I've managed to beg,borrow and steal from on Facebook...........mostly steal ;-)
If you have some pics and would like to have them added to the gallery, feel free to forward them on - click on the "contact us" link in the menu to email them.
Click on the link below to view the gallery.

Worl'ds 2010

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15th August 2010
WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 : RESULTS
St.Laurence O'Toole - World Champions 2010 !!!!!!!!!

Apologies to Pipes|Drums for use of their article..........I don't have the energy to write a blurb at the moment ;-)

St.Laurence O'Toole of Dublin won the 2010 World Pipe Band Championship under dry and relatively warm weather at a very crowded Glasgow Green.
It was the first World title for SLOT and the first time in more than 10 years that a band other than SFU, Field Marshal Montgomery and Shotts & Dykehead did not take the title.
SLOT also won the drumming.
The RSPBA announced Simon Fraser University as being fourth in Grade 1, but a compilers' error appeared to reveal that the band was actually third, finishing ahead of Boghall & Bathgate on ensemble preference, according to RSPBA rule 3.84.
The association later admitted the error and posted an apology to the band impacted.

Full summary details for all grades can be found on the RSPBA website - click here





Grade 1 - Overall
 1 - St.Laurence O'Toole
 2 - Field Marshal Montgomery
 3 - Simon Fraser University
 4 - Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia
 5 - The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead
 6 - Scottish Power

Best MSR - St.Laurence O'Toole
Best Medley - St.Laurence O'Toole
Best Drums - St.Laurence O'Toole

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14th May 2010
PIPING TODAY MAGAZINE  - PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS
An article on P/M Terry Tully and the St.Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band that appeared in Issue 43 of Piping Today, the National Piping Centre’s bi-monthly magazine which seeks to promote the music, history and study of the bagpipes.
To download the article in pdf format,please click on the image below.



To subscribe to Piping Today magazine - click here

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SLOT - FROM THE ARCHIVES
As this season sees the band play it's 21st year in what is considered the modern Grade One arena,an mp3 of the band's first foray into the grade from way back then seems pretty appropriate.

Recorded at the 1989 All-Ireland Championships in Newcastle,Co.Down.



The tunes : Allan Dall MacLeod - The Shepherd's Crook - The Boys Of Malin - Lord Ramsay's Reel - The Ass In The Graveyard - Paddy Clancy's Jig - Queen Of The Rushes : Jig - Queen Of The Rushes : Hornpipe

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SLOT ON YOUTUBE

Video footage of the band is now available on youtube.......spanning 1988 to 2009.

Go direct to our Youtube channels from the links below -

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=slotpb

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=dubpiper
 

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SLOT MERCHANDISE

Merchandise is available for both SLOT fans and the pipe band enthusiast alike.
Below is a small selection of what's available - please click on any image below for more details.
To see the full range click here