By Annie Stewart
A 104 year-old band hall in Moneyreagh is still providing a space for pipers and drummers to practise.
Ballykeel Black Watch Pipe Band Hall was built in 1919, with the band running for around 40 years before disbanding and a group of musicians took on the hall as a place for pipers and drummers to practise.
Restoration works and repairs have been ongoing since before the pandemic by the musicians who use the space.
Adrian Veichey has been using the hall to practice every Wednesday for 13 years. Adrian is an ex-piper with the well-known Field Marshal Montgomery band and has spent a lifetime learning his craft.
He explained how, after 14 years with Field Marshal Montgomery, he was invited to practise at the Ballykeel hall, and has been doing so for the last 13 years.
Adrian said he and those who also use the hall are ‘all passionate about piping’ – “I’ve spent a lifetime at it. We didn’t know how far to go but then the interest really took off,” he said.
Adrian and others have spent the last few years making repairs and refurbishing the hall into a space where everyone can practice.
“The green walls represent Ballykeel [band], they had a green tartan kilt,” said Adrian.
“We’ve taken on the upkeep and maintenance of the hall, put new doors on it, and refurbished it. It was in tatters, if we didn’t look after it, it wouldn’t be here today.”
On average 10 pipers and drummers come to the hall on a Wednesday evening from all different bands to just practise.
“There’s ones here from different bands, we just practise together and this is just a wee practise hut,” he said.
“A pipe band plays tunes in songs of four, you would delegate three fours as the time signature, so we could say set number one or set number eight.
“We come in here at 6pm and we’re away from 10pm. There’s no alcohol, just tea and coffee, and they’re not allowed to drum or pipe after 9pm. There’s a back room where they can play on drum pads or use a practice chanter.
“The idea of that was not to disturb the neighbourhood. This belongs to Moneyreagh.”
The group meets on a Wednesday evening and anyone interested in joining should contact Adrian on 078 6072 3805.