The Raasay/The Restitution Piping Competition- Isle of Raasay Distillery – Saturday 6th September 2025

We’re very proud to be hosting and sponsoring The Raasay Piping Competition, devised by Hamish Moore and supported by The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust. This isn’t your ‘traditional’ piping event – the aim is to reconnect piping with its Gaelic heart and soul. First prize will be a small cask of Isle of Raasay whisky!

The competition takes place at the Isle of Raasay Community Hall and also coincides with our Hebridean Whisky Trail Celebrations, so even more reason to join the fun.

Expect a lively and joyous affair,  book now and get ready to jig your socks off.

• 10.00 am:  Introduction
• 10.00 – 11.30: Competition first half.
• 11.30 – 14.00:  Lunch at Isle of Raasay Distillery.
• 14.00 – 16.00: Competition second half.
• 16.30  onwards: Drinks Reception/Whisky Tasting in Isle of Raasay Distillery during which it is hoped that a session of music will break out which will, inevitably, ‘lead to dancing’.
• Ferry Departures: 17.00 – 18.05  and  20.30.

Piping Competition Competitors:

Piping has, over time, consistently been losing connections with its Gaelic roots. This connection was once central to, and at the heart of, how our music was interpreted and played. It is hoped that this competition will significantly contribute to reconnecting piping with its Gaelic roots and grow in popularity and significance year by year. A slow air seann nós style or a piobaireachd song followed by a selection of Dance Music (Strathspeys and Reels) to be played with a tempo and rhythm suitable to be danced to by a hard shoe percussive Scottish step dancer.

The Prizes for 1st Place (there will be prizes for 2nd and 3rd places also!!!)

Piobaireachd Song/Slow Air – Set of Highland Pipes in A, a copy of the 1785 Black Set of Kintail, and donated by Hamish Moore

Dance Music – Small Cask of Isle of Raasay Single Malt whisky