Argyllshire Gathering

The Argyllshire Gathering is a Highland games held in Oban, Scotland.

History

A meeting on 23 August 1871 held at the Argyll Arms Hotel led to a resolution to have an "Annual Gathering of the Gentry of the County of Argyll for social purposes".[1][2][3] This was to be called the Argyllshire Gathering and was funded by member subscriptions.[3][4] The first Gathering was held in 1873.[5][6]

The Highland Society of London donated a Gold Medal, which along with the Gold Medal also donated to the Northern Meeting is one of the most prestigious prizes in solo piping. Faye Henderson won the Gold Medal in 2010, becoming the first woman to win the Gold Medal at either Oban or Inverness.[7]

The Argyllshire Gathering Halls are at a site on Breadalbane Street in Oban, and were built to accommodate the ball held after the gathering. The current building is a category C listed building built towards the end of the 19th century to replace a timber structure.[8][9]

The Gathering is normally held in late August, one or two weeks before the Northern Meeting in Inverness. Many pipers come to Scotland to compete in both events.[10]

Piping competition

Eligibility for the Senior competitions is decided by a Joint Eligibility Committee, comprising representatives of the Northern Meeting, the Argyllshire Gathering, competition judges and the Competing Pipers Association. Competitors must enter themselves each year, and hear in March whether they have been accepted.[11][12]

On the day after the piping competitions the competitors form a band and march through the town as part of the Stewards' March.[13][12]

See also

References
  1. "History". Oban Games. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  2. "Argyllshire Gathering – How it All Began". piping press. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  3. "Argyllshire Gathering". pipingpress.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  4. "Rules of the Argyllshire Gathering" (PDF). Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  5. "Breadalblane Street. The Argyllshire Gathering Halls and the Gathering Restaurant LB47127". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  6. "Sport and Patronage" (PDF). Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  7. "Squeezed out by the men? Not any more, as Faye, 18, wins piping prize". The Scotsman. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  8. "Oban, Breadalbane Street, The Argyllshire Gathering Halls". Canmore. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  9. "Oban, Breadalbane Street, the Argyllshire Gathering Halls". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  10. "2012 Northern Meeting moves two weeks out from Oban". pipesdrums.com. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  11. "Frequently Asked Questions". northern-meeting.org. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  12. "Piping". Oban Games. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  13. "Argyll News - Lochaber News - Island News and Highland News | Home". The Oban Times. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
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