About the Argyllshire Gathering Trust

The Argyllshire Gathering Trust (AGT) is a charity formed to promote:

1. Education and excellence in piping particularly targeted towards the youth of Argyll principally funding education in schools and promoting piping throughout the world

2. Promotion and development of Scottish dancing and folk music

3. Promotion of our rich Highland heritage and traditions

4. Maintaining the Highland games traditions

The Argyllshire Gathering Trust is Scottish Charity SC050614, and is regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

Currently the principle sponsors of the AGT are the members of the Argyllshire Gathering who, in a typical year provide funding in excess of £40,000 per annum. Other generous donors typically account for in excess of £35,000.

The funding to the AGT supports the Argyll and Bute Schools Piping Tuition Scheme, the Argyllshire Gathering’s annual Piping Competitions and Highland Games which take place every August, but we want to do more!

Your donation will help to continue and further grow the work of the Trust, outlined below.

Donate to the Argyllshire Gathering Trust

Piping tuition in Argyll and Bute, our world class piping competitions and the Oban Games, including its highland dancing competitions, will be all the stronger for your donation.

Donate online

Use the button above to donate online through our Charities Aid Foundation page.

The work of the Trust

The Argyll and Bute Schools Piping Tuition Scheme

Gregor MacDonald, a beneficiary of the Piping Tuition Scheme *photo courtesy Piping Press*

• In 1996 the Argyllshire Gathering entered into an agreement with Argyll & Bute Council to support the teaching of the bagpipes in Argyll primary schools.

• Over the years the Scheme has expanded and currently, each academic year, we support piping tuition to the value of £50,000 in primary schools in Oban, Mid Argyll, Islay, Mull, Kintyre, Cowal, Helensburgh and also Lower Argyll. The tuition is provided by 6 tutors, including world class Argyll pipers Angus MacColl and Stuart Liddell.

• The £50,000 required each year is donated to the Trust through the generosity of members of the Argyllshire Gathering, charitable and corporate partners as well as private individuals.

• Over the years the number of pupils receiving tuition fluctuates (c. 216 pupils in 2021/22) but overall the numbers benefitting from the scheme remain healthy and the value of this is best demonstrated by the numbers who continue to learn the pipes at high school and who take part in competitions and pipe bands. It should be stressed that the focus of our scheme is very much on giving primary school children the opportunity to try the pipes and so we should expect, and not be unduly concerned, if some of these children do not continue their lessons throughout the year.

• We are recognised officially by Argyll & Bute Council as the primary funder of piping tuition in primary schools in the county, providing funding in every primary school where piping lessons are available.

• We also provide 12 sets of pipes on loan to some pupils, purchased with a grant in 2010 from Awards for All Scotland.

Bursaries for Young Argyll Pipers

Bursaries are awarded each year at the Oban Games through a fund set up in memory of the late Ian, Twelfth Duke of Argyll. Gregor MacDonald (pictured above) is a beneficiary of the Piping Tuition Scheme and of one of our bursaries. He is currently studying at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

The Lochnell Invitational Intermediate Piping Competition

This is an annual invitational competition held at Lochnell Castle. This is a development opportunity for the most talented young solo pipers under the age of 22. Scotland’s finest intermediate players compete in a piobaireachd and a march, strathspey and reel competition in the splendid setting of Lochnell Castle.

The Argyllshire Gathering Trust charity promotes piping, Scottish dancing and folk music, highland heritage, traditions and games — Recent Lochnell Competition entrants *photo courtesy Piping Press*

• The Trust, in conjunction with The Argyllshire Gathering, organises each year, as a principal part of the Oban Games, one of the two pre-eminent international Highland Bagpipe competitions for solo pipers in the world.

• Each year the competitions comprise some 400 performances from leading pipers who travel to take part from all over the world.

• The competitions include The Highland Society of London's Gold Medal for Piobaireachd, the Senior Piobaireachd competition, open only to previous winners of the Gold Medal, the Silver Medal competition for Piobaireachd, and the March, Strathspey and Reel competition for former winners.

• The MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd competition (which takes place at the Argyllshire Gathering, but is run for the Highland Society of London) is for players under 22.

• At the Oban Games, there are competitions at A&B grade for March, Strathspey and Reel, as well The Duke’s Medal for Argyll’s young pipers.

2022's major Piping Competition prizewinners with the Duke of Argyll: from left Jamie Forrester, the Duke, Cameron May, Calum Watson. *Image courtesy Piping Press*

The Argyllshire Gathering Oban Games

This spectacular day in August commences with the stirring and unique march through Oban of the Argyllshire Gathering competing pipers, with the winner of the Highland Society of London Gold Medal from the previous day acting as Pipe Major. The pipers are followed to the Games Field to start the Games, led by His Grace the Duke of Argyll, President of the Argyllshire Gathering, along with organisers, members, sponsors and guests.

The Games has a full range of highland events dating back centuries, from tossing the caber, to dancing, piping, heritage and athletics. The community is heavily involved - there is a strong partnership with Oban High School, with pupils and staff taking centre stage helping with organisation, as well as participating and competing. The day after the Oban Games, the AGT sponsors the Ohan High School Games, providing all the infrastructure such as marquees, banners etc to provide Oban’s secondary school pupils with a great day.

A full range of events at the Argyllshire Gathering Oban Games

Dancing Competitions at the Argyllshire Gathering Oban Games

The Argyllshire Gathering Trust raises the funds to run the Highland Dancing Competitions at the Oban Games which provide a tremendous spectacle. There are three classes: Adult, 15 and Under, 12 and Under.

Scottish Charity SC050614, regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)

(c) The Argyllshire Gathering Trust Website by Sea Pebble Ltd