Irvine Memorial Pipe Band, Clabby to host 'An Audience with Pipe Major Dr. Richard Parkes'

Pipe Major Dr Richard Parkes MBE of Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band.

Major Dr. Parkes has been the pipe major of the 13 time and current World Champions, Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band for a period of 41 years. With the band’s 13th World’s win in 2022, Richard achieved the record for the number of World Championship wins by a pipe major.

Richard’s success as a pipe major has become a part of piping history, but he is also one of Ireland’s most successful solo players, having participated in solo competitions over many years when his pipe band commitments allowed. Richard has consistently won all the major solo competitions in Ireland, including seven All Ireland Championships, nine Ulster Championships, and eight Northern Ireland Piper of the Year titles.

Richard’s success at the helm of Field Marshall Montgomery has been remarkable. As a pipe major, he has led the band to an outstanding 70 Major Championship wins, which is another record for a Pipe Major. Richard’s achievements have made him not only the most prominent pipe major ever from Northern Ireland, but also the most successful in the world today. In 2011 the band made history by becoming the first band ever to complete the Grand Slam of The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) Major titles on two occasions - 1993 and 2011 and they have since won the Grand Slam for a third time in 2013.

In 2004, he received the MBE from The Queen for services to pipe bands in Northern Ireland and in 2019 he received two Honorary Doctorates from Queens University and the University of Ulster, recognising not only his success, but also how important his influence has been on the art of piping.

The running of a successful band takes more than just a pipe major; as in all successful organisations there are people in the background who are supportive and actively assisting the band to achieve the success it has. Richard has been married to Ruth for 22 years who, he says is very patient, supportive and understanding of all the demands of his piping activities.

Collectively, Field Marshall Montgomery is an award winning band, but many of its members are also solo champions in their own right and in the Valley on November 25 there will be an opportunity to see two musicians of exceptional calibre perform on pipes and drum.

Gareth McLees, champion solo drummer and member of Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band.

Gareth McLees returned to FMM for the 2016 season having previously played with the band from 2007-2012. During the intervening years he was a member of Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band. Originally from Belfast, Gareth has previously resided in Perth, Western Australia where he was leading drummer of the Western Australia Police Pipe Band. He has enjoyed a very successful pipe band drumming career to date, including six World Pipe Band Championship titles, a Grade one world drum corps title and two Australian National Championship titles. In Gareth’s solo career he has now placed 2nd in the adult World solo drumming for the 3rd time, most recently in October 2022.

Ashley McMichael, champion solo piper and member of Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band.

Ashley McMichael joined Field Marshall Montgomery in 2005 having previously played for Ravara and Ballydonaghy - a band which won the worlds in Grade 3b in 2001. He is a piper of note having won the All Ireland solo piping championship and the Northern Ireland Piper of the year five times for each award, together with many other solo awards during his piping career including the prestigious Highlands and Islands young piper of the year (30 and under) award, in Benbecula 2012 and Strachan (A grade) in London 2021 proving that he is maintaining piping of the highest quality for almost two decades. Whilst with FMM he has won numerous major championships, two grand slams and nine world championships. He had some very well-known tutors over the years and pays tribute to Hugh Cooke, the late Bertie Toad and Willie McCallum.

This is a free event organised by the Irvine Memorial Pipe Band on Friday, November 25 in The Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown but admission is by ticket only as space is limited. In order to get your tickets please contact either Sandra Irvine on 07837372994 or Neil Stronge pipe major on 07791965738.