Man Raises $3,200 Playing Auld Lang Syne on Bagpipes in 19 Bars New Year's Eve

For the second year in a row, Alameda resident Andy MacKay and Team Pipe-athon visited 19 bars in Alameda on New Year’s Eve, bagpiping Auld Lang Syne to enthusiastic patrons and collecting over $3,200 for the American Cancer Society.

The donations collected are in memory of MacKay’s father, Bertie MacKay, who died in the United Kingdom in February after losing his battle with cancer, and will also support all who are affected by the disease.

MacKay extended his thanks to the Pipe-athon team: Joe ‘Jake Blues’ Donohoe, Jamie ‘Elwood Blues’ Eckmier, Ron ‘The Collector’ Manabat, Rod ‘Tarantino’ Ortiz, Ken ‘Fittipaldi’ Johnson, and all the supporters including Fiona, Feargal and Caimin MacKay.

“Also, many thanks to all the bars and restaurants who welcomed us and allowed us to disturb their peace during the Pipe-athon,” MacKay said. “We then headed off into the night, piping in the New Year for every time zone from East Coast at 9 p.m. through to Alaska at 1 p.m. Pacific Time. Happy New Year and watch this space for Pipe-athon 2016!”

• McGee’s (Thanks, Tim!)
• Alameda Island Brewing Company
• Angela’s
• Speissekammer
• Lemon Tree
• Churchward
• American Oak
• Lost Weekend
• Hobnob
• Lucky 13
• Fire Den
• Club House
• Z’sSwell Bar
• Forbidden Island
• Wally’s
• Fireside
• Shamrock
• 1400 (Thanks, Yanni and Mike!)

Click here to donate to MacKay’s drive.

Related:

• Man Returns to 18 Alameda Bars New Year’s Eve to Play Auld Lang Syne on Bagpipes

Photo credit: Andy MacKay