SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has nominated Donald Bàn MacDonald, a respected piping instructor from Benbecula, to the Scottish Parliament’s 25th anniversary ceremony this Saturday, 28 September.

Donald MacDonald, known affectionately in his local community as Dòmhnall Bàn, was nominated by the Western Isles’ MSP in recognition of his significant contribution to Hebridean music and culture for over 20 years. As a piping instructor for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Mr MacDonald has instructed hundreds of school pupils in Uist and Barra. He was named Tutor of the Year at the 2023 Scots Trad Music Awards.

Local Heroes have been invited to the ceremonial event in the Parliament’s debating chamber to celebrate the achievements of the Scottish Parliament over the last 25 years. Scotland’s rich music and culture will feature prominently with performances by young people from across the country.

The Scottish Parliament was reconvened by the late Queen on 1 July 1999, with the purpose-built premises at the bottom of the Royal Mile officially opened 5 years later.

Alasdair Allan MSP commented:

“The Parliament has been instrumental in advancing our nation’s interests, and it is a privilege to be part of this historic occasion.

“As we approach this milestone anniversary, I look forward to celebrating alongside those who have played a part in shaping the Scotland we know today.

“I am delighted to have invited Dòmhnall Bàn, who through his dedication to his community and culture, is the embodiment of a local hero. With youth music so central to this event, and a contemporary Scotland more widely, his work stands as an apt reflection of the ceremony’s purpose.”