Pipe band
Closkelt
Drumgooland, Co. Down, Northern Ireland
grade 1 pipeband in Drumgooland county down, northern ireland
Closkelt Pipe Band from Northern Ireland formed in 1938.
History
The band originated as a flute band in 1878, but in 1938, a group of men from the band decided to learn the bagpipes.
Pipe Major
David Chesney is the Pipe Major of the band.
Location
The band is from the hamlet of Closkelt in the townland of Drumgooland, County Down, between Banbridge and Castlewellan.
Tartan
In 2017, the band created a custom-made tartan named “Drumgooland”.
Achievements
The band has had many successes, including:
- Winning the Grade 4B World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow in 2011
- Winning the Grade 2 British Championships and the Grade 2 Northern Ireland Champion of Champions in 2018
- Winning the Ulster Championships for a third consecutive year in 2019
- Being promoted to Grade 1 in 2019
Drumgooland is a civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is situated mainly in the historic barony of Iveagh Upper, Lower Half, with one townland in the barony of Iveagh Lower, Lower Half.
RSPBA record
The RSPBA band register lists the following entries, checked 3 October 2026. Grades and registration status are a snapshot of that register and may differ from the 2026 championship grades below.
| RSPBA band number | Branch | Grade | Pipe major | Registration status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 761 | Northern Ireland | ONE | David Chesney | Registered |