NIBandsAssociation15 hours agoSome photographs taken yesterday at the awards presentations at the Championship of Ireland Bands Association.NIBandsAssociation23 hours agoYesterday, Saturday 24th October, was the second Saturday of the Irish Championship contest in the Market Place Theatre in Armagh. The day was well supported with many members of the general public in the theatre listening to the performances. Most of the bands played an own choice programme which makes for a wide range of music. The second grade and Championship sections did play set test pieces which were also very good pieces and enjoyable to listen to. The adjudicator was Mr Richard Yarr who complimented all of the performances and particularly mentioned our Championship flute bands. He congratulated all of the bands who took part and praised the association on running an excellent contest day.
The results for the contest yesterday are as follows:
Melody Flute
Adjudication only Ballycoan Flute Band 175 points
Melody Plus Flute
Adjudication only Ballycoan Flute Band 171 points
Second Grade Accordion
1st Place John Hunter Memorial Accordion Band 173 points
Grade 4 Concert Bands
1st Place Ardee Concert Band Intermezzio Ensemble 171 points
Championship Accordion
1st Place East Antrim Seniors Accordion Orchestra 180 points
Championship Concert
1st Place Northern Ireland Concert Band 190 points
2nd Place Ardee Concert Band 184 points
Second Grade Flute
1st Place Ballywalter Flute Band 1st 7points
2nd Place Lord Londonderry's own CLB Concert Flute Band 184 points
Best interpretation Prize Ballywalter Flute
Best Percussion Prize Lord Londonderry's Own CLB Concert Flute Band
World Championship Flute
1st Place Ballygowan Concert Flute Band 191 points
2nd Place Ballylone Concert Flute Band 185 points
3rd Place Ballymena Young Conquerors Concert Flute Band 180 points
4th Place Hunter Moore Memorial Flute Band 179 points
Best Percussion Prize Ballygowan Flute
Best interpretation Prize Ballygowan Flute
Best Picolo Prize Ballygowan Flute
Best Solo Alto Prize Ballylone Flute
Best Overall band of the day Ballygowan FluteNIBandsAssociation1 week agoNext Saturday, 24th October, sees the Irish Championship contest continue in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh with the Accordion, Concert and Flute sections. The Championship Concert Flute section is recognized as the World Championship for Concert Flute Bands. The day begins at 11.00am with the Melody and Melody Plus Flutes and continues through the morning with 2nd Grade Accordion, 4th grade Concert, Championship accordion and Championship Concert bands.
After the break for lunch we have the Grade 2 Flute section at 2.30pm followed by the World Championship for Concert Flute Bands. The adjudicator is the well known Richard Yarr. Please come along and support this event. All day admission is only £6 with a concession price for children and pensioners.NIBandsAssociation1 week agoA big thank you to the Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Alderman Lavelle McIwrath for visiting the Market Place Theatre in Armagh yesterday to support the 108th Championship of Ireland Bands contest. He really enjoyed the time spent and hopes to attend again next Saturday if his calander allows. A photo below taken in the theatre with NIBA Association General Secretary, Richard Whiteside and Executive Committee member, Robert McMurray.NIBandsAssociation1 week agoA great day's competition yesterday at the 108th Championship of Ireland band contest in the Market Place Theatre in Armagh and a great turn out of bands and supporters in the theatre. The adjudicator was Mr Richard Marshall who was very encouraging and complimentary about all of the playing and the venue and arrangements. The new Community Band section was a great success with the 3rd Carrickfergus Training band and Downshire Community bands really putting on a very entertaining section and this is a section which the association hopes will continue to grow. Also it was great to see the return of the Youth brass section and the 1st Old Boys Youth band with a lot of really young players were amazing, another section the association hopes will continue to grow. The three grades were very well supported and the bands all put on great performances which the adjudicator praised. A lot of percussion this year was required across the grades which he complimented. Congratulations to all of the winning bands and thank you to all for making this such as successful contest. A full list of the results below.
Third Grade Brass
1st St.Mark's Silver 192 points
2nd Wellington Memorial 190 points
3rd Dynamic Brass 189 points
4th Dungannon Silver 187 points
5th Poyntzpass Silver 186 points
Prize for conductor of winning band. Bob Quick, St.Mark's
Second Grade Brass
1st CWA Brass193points
2nd Roughan Silver 189 points
3rd Drogheda Brass 188 points
4th Comber Silver 186 points
Best cornet section prize CWA Brass
Beat Basses prize CWA Brass
Prize for conductor of winning band. Stephen Cairns, CWA Brass
Championship Brass
1st Laganvale Metal Technology Band197 points
2nd 1st Old Boys Silver 195 points
3rd Strabane Brass 192 points
4th Downshire Brass 191 points
5th Murley Silver 189 points
6th 3rd Carrickfergus 188 points
Best instrumentalist prize Laganvale Metal Technology band
Martin Wilson best trombone prize. 1st Old Boys
Prize for conductor of winning band. Charles Fyffe, Laganvale Metal Technology Band
Youth Brass
1st 1st Old Boys Youth band 187 points
Best performance of the day Laganvale Metal Technology band
Some photos also from yesterday attached.
The contest continues next Saturday, 24th October, in the Market Place Theatre with the Championship contest for Flutes, Accordion and Concert bands when the adjudicator will be Mr Richard Yarr.
Events
NIBA Contest 2026
Market Place Theatre, Armagh
Saturday 17th October (Brass and Community Bands)
Adjudicator.Richard Marshall
Saturday 24th October (Flutes, Accordion, Concert and Community Bands)
Adjudicator. Richard Yarr