Man behind MacMoray Festivals bids to bring major pipe band event back to Moray this summer
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THE man behind MacMoray Festivals has made a bid to bring a major pipe band event back to Moray this summer.
The European Bagpipe Championships, or Piping Hot, which later became Piping At Forres, was a firm favourite in the Moray calender for six years.
The championships were last held in Forres in 2018. Andy Macdonald, who runs the Carlton Hotel in Forres and has brought MacMoray Festival to Elgin, wants to bring a piping event back to Moray.
He has officially placed a bid to bring the British Bagpipe Champions to the area – to an as-of-yet unconfirmed location – this June.
The set-up is the same as the European Championships and it would bring at least 4000 pipers and hundreds of Highland dancers to Moray.
Andy, who was born in Elgin and grew up in Moray, said: "I have heard so much about Piping Hot and how amazing it was since I took over the Carlton.
"I reached out and decided to bid a substantial amount to bring it back to Moray.
"I love Moray and now I'm living here I want to continue helping put the area on the map.
"If my bid was to be a success, it would be a major boost to the local economy."
Andy added that he is determined to bring the event to Moray, even if it doesn't happen as soon as this summer.
"I have come in hard and last-minute to get this to Moray," he said. "I am relentless and if I'm unsuccessful I'll keep going until I eventually bring this back."
It remains unclear where the event would be held if it came back to Moray. It was held at Grant Park in Forres for six years, and that could be an option, but other parks are on the table.
The British Pipe Band Championships are one of four – Worlds, European and Scottish – that are held annually.
