To some it has simply been "The Coan", while to others it has been "The Red Devils". To the piping world, Ballycoan Pipe Band represents a tradition of musical skill that has bettered the best. The Coan's history belongs to men and women of determination, forming it from the ashes of a post First World War Pipe Band, injecting new life into the Royal Stewart Tartan in the aftermath of the Second World War and eventually taking it into a new Millennium.

The Early Years (1935 - 1986)

The birth of Ballycoan Pipe Band dates back to 1935, when Pipe Major William Evans and Pipe Sergeant Willie John Gregory of Coronation Pipe Band decided it was time to start a pipe band in the village of Ballycoan. Before long, the pipe band was launched, "Ballycoan Jubilee Pipe Band", the "Jubilee" being added as it was the Silver Jubilee of King George V that year, 1935.

The committee had the task of looking out for a suitable band hall. At a price of £40, an old hut on Laganbank Road was bought and dismantled and re-erected on a site given to them by John Wilgar. Around 1937, William Evans became the first Pipe Major, once they got the band on the road. Not long after, war broke out, the band closed down and the band hall was taken over to house Air-Raid refugees from Belfast.

Soon after the war ended, the band started up again. In 1947 a new Pipe Major, Billy Wood from Dromara Pipe Band, took over. With additions like Jim Brown, winner of the first All Ireland Solo Drumming contest in 1950, Jackie Seaton, Billy Dunlop, Bobby Rea, Ivan Scott, Alex Hull, Sandy Cummings and Ian Wood, the band made their imprints on success and brought Ballycoan through the 'golden years' of the 50's.

The 50's were a remarkable musical era achieving changing popular listening patterns - for Ballycoan, those years set the foundation for an ascendance to the peak. At that time Ballycoan was only a Grade 3 band, but under the old rules they were allowed to play in the higher grades. Ballycoan Pipe Band was the first Irish Pipe Band to take away a prize from Scotland when they competed in Grade 2 at the Cowal Games in Dunoon in 1950, taking 1st place and winning the "The Sir Harry Lauder Shield".

Later that year, in the C.I.Y.M.S. Hall, Donegal Square East, Belfast on Saturday 28th October 1950, the monthly meeting of the NI Pipe Band League, which was affiliated to the NI Bands Association, was held. There was a notice of motion from Ballycoan Pipe Band that all league bands become members of the Scottish Pipe Band Association, this was passed and it was unanimously agreed that the name be immediately changed from the N.I.P.B. League to the Scottish Pipe Band Association, Northern Ireland Branch. Today’s RSPBA (NIB) was born.

In the early 1960's, Pipe Major Willie Wood emigrated to Australia, passing leadership onto Sandy Cummings. His dedication and commitment injected continued enthusiasm into the members and continued their successes becoming Ulster Champions on two occasions, 1965 and 1966. Sandy handed over a strong band in 1967 to incoming Pipe Major Hughie Acheson. Leading the band for the next three years, Acheson then passed the band onto Jimmy Johnston. Competing at the Grade Two level, Ballycoan captured its first World Championship in 1976. This amazing achievement, however, instead of helping knit the band into a new strength, seemed to do the opposite and the World Champion combination only stayed together long enough to "cut" a record and then dispersed.

Only Bertie Chittick and a young Brain Rea remained, beginning the course of rebuilding the band from scratch aided by a handful of dedicated members. Brian Rea was elected Pipe Major in late 1976 and managed to hold the band and the name together for the next decade keeping the doors open and practice nights regular.

Rebuilding the Band (1987 - 1993)

In 1987, in an attempt to preserve and rebuild the band, Brain sought out young, talented players in the area to join Ballycoan. Alan & David McCormick, Alison Hendron (ne. Brown), Jonny Wilson, and others, mostly young pupils at the newly formed Northern Ireland Piping and Drumming School, were asked if they would like to come along and help rebuild a legendary name in the pipe band world - Ballycoan.

With a new decade approaching, a new era injected new life into "The Coan". Nurtured talent, spiced with commitment, brought the band back from the brink and up the rungs of the ladder for another go at success.

The band went out in the early 90's in Grade 3, placing in the top four at every competition from 1991 - 1993, including first place finishes at the Ulster and European Championships in 1993 and a runner up spot at the World Championships in 1993.

Moving Forward (1994 – 2006)

With the success of the 1993 season, Ballycoan was promoted to Grade 2. Under Brian Rea's leadership, the band climbed steadily through the grade. In 1997, Brian made the decision to step down after 21 Years as Pipe Major, handing the reigns over to his son, Alfie Rea. Alfie spent the next decade taking the band to the very top of Grade 2 and up through Grade 1. In 1999 Ballycoan won their first Grade 2 Major, the Cowal Championships. Three years later, Alfie led the band to the perfect season, winning every competition in Grade 2, all local contests and all five Majors, Scottish, British, European, Cowal and World Championships, Northern Ireland Champion of Champions and Supreme Champion of Champions of the World.

The Band was promoted to Grade 1 for the 2003 season and over the next 5 years, worked hard to push up through the grade. Ballycoan qualified for the Grade 1 World Championship final no less than 3 out of 5 times, winning the qualifying heat on one occasion and coming 2nd on another, achieved a number of 7th and 8th place finishes at Major Championships and attained the band’s highest placing at the Worlds in Grade 1 to date, being 10th in 2006. In addition to the high level of achievement at the Major championships, Ballycoan also took extensive local championship titles, winning the Grade 1 Champions of Champions trophy 3 times.

A New Era (2007 –present)

At the close of the 2007 season, Alfie Rea made the decision, due to work commitments, to hand over his “baby” to a new PM. Alfie invited Glenn Cupples, a long term friend and fellow Field Marshal Montgomery player to be the new custodian of the band.

Glenn has played an important role in the development of the pipe corps since taking over. In 2008, under Glenn’s leadership, the band achieved two 7th place finishes at Major Championships, pre-qualified for the World Championship final for the first time, won a number of local titles and ended its 2008 campaign with the band’s fourth Northern Ireland Champion of Champions trophy.

We look forward to the 2009 season with anticipation of things to come…