St Colmcille's bass drummer Susan Feery, cousin of the late Fergus Shelly, pictured with the William J Craig Memorial Trophy in Cookstown last Saturday.

Mixed emotions as St Colmcille's pipe band finishes second in Cookstown

St Colmcille’s Pipe Band, Tullamore collected yet more silverware when finishing second at the Mid-Ulster Championships in Cookstown, Co Tyrone last Saturday, a result that was dedicated to the memory of former band member Fergus Shelly who sadly passed away last week.

Fergus, whose family is steeped in the best traditions of the band, was once a drummer with St Colmcille’s and always maintained a keen interest in its activities and achievements.

His time in the band overlapped that of three members who played in Cookstown last Saturday - pipers Pat Middleton and Gary Mangan and bass drummer Susan Feery, who is also Fergus’s first cousin.

Susan took the brave decision to compete on Saturday despite her family’s bereavement, citing Fergus’s love for and pride in the band as her reason for doing so.

On the day, members were satisfied that the band had maintained its level of performance from the previous two competitions this season, which saw them take first place at the City of Lisburn Championships and the prestigious British Championships in Bathgate, Scotland - the band’s first ever major victory.

However, they were beaten to top honours on this occasion by Tullintrain from Co Derry, with the prize list completed by local band Cloughfin and Cullybackey (Antrim) in third and fourth place respectively.

The band’s next competitive outing will be at the Co Tyrone Championships in Omagh on June 23 as preparations intensify for the All-Ireland Championships in Derry on July 6.

Members who competed in Cookstown last Saturday: Pipe Corps - Pipe Major John Leamy, Pipe Sergeant Don Devine, Mick Foy, Gary Mangan, Pat Middleton, Joe Mooney and Pat Nolan; Drum Corps - Drum Sergeant Michael Middleton, Ross Cannon, Hugh Conaghan and PJ Murphy; Bass & Tenor Section: Susan Feery, Martin Donnellan, Leo Middleton and Ciaran Whelan.