Muaitheabhal Community Trust Awards £2,000 Grant to Lewis & Harris Piping Society in Support of World-Renowned Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition

Details of the Pipe Major Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition

Support for Lewis & Harris Piping Society

Muaitheabhal Community Trust is delighted to announce the award of a £2,000 grant to the Lewis & Harris Piping Society in support of the Pipe Major Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition — one of the most prestigious invitational piping competitions in the world.

The grant will contribute to the running costs of the annual competition, which next April will mark its 30th anniversary (two years having been lost during the pandemic). The competition, held each year on the first weekend in April in Stornoway, invites eight of the world's finest pipers to perform in the native town of one of piping's true legends.

About the Competition

Established in 1994, the Pipe Major Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition was founded by the Lewis & Harris Piping Society to honour the extraordinary legacy of Pipe Major Donald MacLeod — a Stornoway-born piper widely regarded as one of the greatest of the 20th century.

Donald MacLeod learned to play the pipes from his father before enlisting in the Army in 1936, where he rapidly rose to become Pipe Major of the Seaforth Highlanders. Captured with his regiment at St Valery in 1940, he made a daring escape during the forced march to Germany — hiding in a ditch before making his way back to Fort George. After the war, he forged an outstanding career as a competitive piper and went on to become one of the most prolific and beloved composers in the tradition. To this day, wherever pipes are played — from the USA to Australia — his tunes can be heard.

The competition that bears his name brings together eight of the world's current leading pipers to perform a selection of MacLeod's own compositions alongside pieces of their own choosing, right in the town where he was born. The event has grown to be considered second only to the premier Glenfiddich competition held annually at Blair Castle and draws visitors from across the globe — including a loyal contingent from Germany who return year after year.

For the past three years, the competition has also been live streamed to an online audience of approximately 1,000 viewers worldwide, extending its reach far beyond the shores of Lewis.

Since its founding, the costs of staging the competition have grown substantially — from approximately £8,000 for the inaugural event to nearer £20,000 today. The Society has worked hard over the years to attract funding from a wide range of sources, and the support of Muaitheabhal Community Trust represents a valued contribution to ensuring the competition's future.

Dr John Smith, Lewis & Harris Piping Society, said:

“We are extremely grateful to Muaitheabhal Community Trust for this generous grant. The Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition has grown over three decades into something truly special — an event that brings the best pipers in the world to Stornoway and celebrates the genius of one of our own. Staging a competition of this calibre requires significant resources, and the support of local funders like Muaitheabhal Community Trust is absolutely vital to keeping that flame alive. As we approach our 30th anniversary, it means a great deal to know that the wider community shares our pride in this event.”

Donnie Morrison, Executive Board Member, Muaitheabhal Community Trust, said:

“Muaitheabhal Community Trust is proud to support the Lewis & Harris Piping Society and this exceptional competition. The Donald MacLeod Memorial Competition puts Stornoway on the world map of piping every single year, honouring a man whose talent and legacy belong not just to Lewis, but to the global piping community. This is exactly the kind of cultural endeavour that our Trust exists to support — rooted in our island’s heritage, but with a reach that extends around the world.”