One of the principal objectives of the Argyllshire Gathering is to maintain the highest traditions of piping, work which continues throughout the year. Our activity breaks down into three areas – piping competitions during Games week, a Schools Piping Initiative run under the auspices of the Piping Trust and in conjunction with Argyll & Bute Council, and occasional funding of additional piping events or activities such as the MOD.

Piping Competitions
The competitions organised by the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban are aligned with those run by the Northern Meeting later in the year, since each competition has the privilege of presenting a Gold Medal for piobaireachd on behalf of the Highland Society of London.

Competitions are run over two days with piobaireachd (ceol mor or the great music) competitions taking place on Wednesday at the various locations within Oban town centre listed below and the light music (ceol beag or the little music) competitions taking place at Oban’s highland games on Mossfield Park on Thursday. Piping is one of the highlights for Oban as it is the finest line-up of pipers from around the World to be heard at any highland games each summer.

With two months to go please could anyone competing in the competitions at Oban this year note certain changes. The first is that we have altered the venues and some start times and these are shown below, the second is that we have been forced to increase the Entry Fee to £20. It has been kept down to £10 at Oban for the last five years but inflation has at last got the better of us. In regard to the venues, the changes have been discussed and agreed with the CPA. This is an attempt to improve both the competition rooms, more particularly the tuning rooms and to bring all the competitions closer together which improves the experience for visitors. If it does not work we can revert to the traditional venues next year.

The change has been made possible because the library is vacant in the Corran Halls now and this releases 2 additional practice rooms. Please note the earlier start time for the Senior Piobaireachd, which allows us to organise the room for the evening competition properly.

Entry fees will be collected on the day when you register for your first competition. Anyone failing to pay on arrival will not be eligible to compete and even if they have been allowed to by the stewards on the day prior to payment, may find themselves disqualified.

The playing order will be made available once all competitors have submitted their tunes via the website, as this is the check that allows me to see whether all those who registered and were accepted still intend to compete.

Competitors
Competition entry is available to those who qualify and are ruled as eligible to compete by the Joint Committee of the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting in the year of competition, through the Competition Entry tab facility. News in the build up to the Games is also available there.

Schools Piping Initiative
The Argyllshire Gathering operates a joint venture with Argyll & Bute Council to provide the teaching of the bagpipes in various primary schools within the County that would not otherwise receive any. Essentially this involves the funding of a tutor and instruments. Currently the scheme operates in five schools and teaches 50 pupils. The scheme is organised through the Piping Trust and further details are available through the tab facility.

Other Activity
The Argyllshire Gathering contributes to other piping and dancing activities on an occasional basis where these activities are designed to promote or teach elements of the rich diversity of highland music or culture. For example a memorial bursary was established in memory of the late 12th Duke of Argyll, which funds additional tuition for the winner of the Junior MSR competition at the Oban Games. Enquiries about such activity should be made in writing to the Secretary of the Gathering.

Popular links to Piping websites

The College of Piping
The Piping Centre
The Competing Pipers' Association
Lowland and Border Pipers' Society
Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
Scottish Traditional Music Trust
RSAMD
The Piobaireachd Society