2003


The Great Northern Irish Pipers Club and not a Northern Irish accent among them! Strange? You decide ;) I was playing a few gigs in St. Paul, Minnesota last weekend, March 1 & 2, 2003, and arranged to get together with Tom Klein while there. Luckily there was a pipers club meeting going on the same weekend so we had a great time discussing the current state of piping and humidity issues, I think it was 25% that day in the house with 0ºF outdoors! Some of the likely lads that were present were David Boisvert and his pipes collection made by himself no less. Brad Kampf a whistler turned piper, he was playing for the first time that day and impressive it was too - keep up the good work Brad! Wally Swentko and Adam Modares were there figuring out if they really want to indulge in this deep dark piping pool... come on in lads the water's lovely Mwa ha ha haaa! }B~) I had the pleasure of meeting the shunned Royce Lerwick, a pleasently, if not surprisingly, nice guy! Also had the pleasure of meeting Tom Dahill and was allowed a few tunes on his Willie Ro'u'some set. A very nice set with the unusual distinction of GHB style combing on all the parts. It was recently re-reeded by Benedict Koehler and is playing really beautifully! Thanks guys for making the visit to brrrrly Minnesota so much fun.

Fel Bautista scanned in a few more artifacts for the site. This time it is a selection of interesting pages from "An Píobaire" Mean Fomhair (September) 1978.
Here are a few shots of my Wooff B chanter to accompany comments made on the Chiff & Fipple message board about F natural key placement. These files are quite big averaging 150K, so people with slow connection speeds go and make a cup of tea while they open, just milk in mine thanks ;)
Found this photo of Eugene Lambe playing the pipes in his workshop in Kinvara, Co. Galway, on a Japanese website Music Web Magazine.
Also, while scrounging around on the web, found a couple of classic engravings by "William H. Grattan Flood" from his book "The Story of the Bagpipe" of Mr. Colclough and Paddy Coneely here.
Here is my Andreas Rogge D chanter in three views. I am posting this in response to a post from Ston on the Chiff & Fipple message board about new key placement/experimentation with uilleann pipes. Andreas places his key's in such a way that the bottom hand thumb can hit each key rather than using other fingers for the job. This is best demonstrated in the angle displayed to the right in the graphic.

Here we have a rare sighting of a meeting of the "Northern Flying Column Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club", otherwise known as the N.F.C.S.C.U.P.C. for convenience purposes. In these photos we have from left to right (or there abouts) - Michael O'Donovan (D set by Michael Hubbert), Dave Riddles (D set by Michael Hubbert), Larry Dunn (D set by Seth Gallagher), Barry O'Neill (D set by Taylor), Dave Collins (D set by Seth Gallagher) and Patrick D'Arcy (D set by Eugene Lambe, chanter by Andreas Rogge).
Larry Dunn's B half set by Peter Hunter is currently being upgraded to a full set by pipemaker Brad Angus. Here are three shots that Brad sent Larry of the work so far.... only three weeks to go Lar! :)
Some vintage Irish postcards depicting pipers of the day.
Here we have some nice photos of Tom Dahill with his Willie Ro'u'some set playing at his cottage in Kinvara, Co.Galway in early June 2001. Ken Ricketts sent me these photos, thanks Ken! The last one is of Ken playing the set.

Birmingham, England pipemaker Marcus Coulter sent me some images of his work. Here are a few samples, the lighter coloured one is lignum vitae with brass keys and mounts, the other is of blackwood with silver keys and mounts.

west coast tionól 2003
san francisco
San Francisco hosted the West Coast Tionól once more this year over the weekend of February 14, 15 & 16. Great fun was had by all and Wally has written a great review in the Pipers Review so there's no point repeating it here. I wasn't planning on posting these photos as I was disappointed with the quality, I was breaking in a digital camera, it was breaking me in more like! On further inspection and some private requests I thought "what the hell, just post them". So here they are. I did what I could with them in Photoshop which worked out okay... so... enjoy :)

Here we have the master of ceremonies, Ted Anderson, overseeing the days events. Here he is announcing that Brian McNamara will be giving a questions and answers type of lecture right away, to Brian's dismay! It worked out very nicely though and presented some of the nicest piping of the weekend. The two likely lads posing there are Joey and Nick from Los Angeles. Joey is getting into the pipes and is currently borrowing a practice set from the S.C.U.P.C. and doing a fine job on them. Nick is a great flute player, we're trying to get him to turn though ;)


Here we are at the concert which was at the same venue as the days precedings. These pictures are in order to the best of my knowledge. Seán Folsom, pipemaker Patrick Murray, Lillis Ó Laoire, Todd Denman and friend, The Woodchippers (HA HA) and the final three frm this selection depict Todd Denman, Brian McNamara an Benedict Koehler playing in trio.


Then on to the Sunday afternoon recitals, these are in no particular order. I had others but they were just too out of focus so sorry to the blurry faces in them... whoever you are :) In these we have Brian, Conall Ó Raghallaigh, Susanne Ward, Lewis Blevins, Larry Dunn, Colin Borgess and David Quinn.

Here we have a visiting concertina player (please tell me her name someone!) Tate Donovan and Barry Fisher playing a few tunes at the weekly session at Finn McCool's Pub in Santa Monica.
Paddy Keenan and Tommy O'Sullivan were playing at a house concert here in Los Angeles in February, it was way out in East LA... Santa CLarita maybe? Anyway, hope you like the schnapps... a nice one there of his Dave Williams set with Koehler & Quinn boxwood chanter.

A message was sent to the UPML asking for the cover of the out of print album Ceol, Scéalta agus Amhráin by Séamus Ennis. Luckily I have a copy of the album that my Father found in a record shop in Belfast, so I've scanned it for your collectible pleasure :) I saved these files at 150 dpi so they would print out decently so the filesize is about 200K.... just to warn you ;)



Kevin Rietmann has an amazing collection of some wonderful uilleann piping memorabilia. The album cover above of Ennis' Ceol, Scéalta agus Amhráin inspired him to send me a glimpse at his collection. Anyone else that feels this urge please don't deny yourself and indulge in it completely, I'd be delighted to share any artifacts you might have, assuming everything is above board etc...

Pipers featured here include:
  • Tommy Reck
  • Dan O'Dowd
  • Finbar Furey
  • Leo Rowsome
  • Leon Rowsome




The "Northern Flying Column Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club", N.F.C.S.C.U.P.C. for short, meets irregularly at members houses. Usually we meet at Michael O'Donovan's where he lavishes us with his artistic culinary skills, get well soon Michael! This time we met at Barry O'Neill's house and had a lovely evening with him and Prudie. In the photo we have Victor Fitzsimmons, Larry Dunn, Dave Riddles and Myself. This was the evening the lunar eclipse took place which was very exciting. Victor is the proud new owner of a Geoff Wooff B set which he allowed me to play, very nice indeed! The chanter shown here is a Taylor which belongs to a full set currently being renovated. Really amazing craftsmanship on this piece.
The Southern France pipers club named Easter Snow had their 4th annual tionól at the beginning of May 2003. Thanks to Guy Koutny for sending me this information.
Barry O'Neill sent me this news paper clipping of interest. He says "Here's the lost and found column from the New York Times for Aug 26 1935, p.34. Notice the first item.

It's not clear that these are uilleann pipes -- I tend to think they are but the fellow's name was Patrick Meagher and he was also a warpiper. He was from Fethard, Co. Tipperary. He lived from 1872-1967, and worked as a printer. He had been in the union since he was 18 and at the time of his death (or rather just before that) claimed to hold the record for longest time in a union. When he came to NYC he learned Hebrew characters will enough to get a job on the Yiddish paper, he claimed, but when he applied for membership in the Jewish Typographical Union, they rejected him because he signed his name in Irish. He worked for the NYT as a printer then left to found the Gaelic Voice." Thanks Barry for this great snippet of history.
Here's a record that was recently for sale on eBay, "Séamus Ennis - Masters of Irish Music". Anyone know more about it?

Follow Up: Thanks to Ken Ricketts, our Norfolk correspondant, for sending the back cover and transcription to us. Click here to read the back cover which was dictated from Séamus' mother and transcribed here by Ken to a Word document. I think it's obvious from reading this where Séamus got his gift for the gab!
Larry Dunn and myself drove up to the last San Francisco Tionól (2003) which was great fun. We stopped off at the house of a college friend of Larry's on the way back down to LA. Here we are playnig a few tunes for our gracious hosts. A poem was written to accompany the afternoon here

Ken Ricketts of Norfolk, England sent me this famous old photo of that un-named piper. He says "I picked up a book of old photos in Easons in Galway and this was included. The photo was taken by a man called William Lawrence probably sometime between 1880 and 1900 who worked for a photgrapher taking shots for postcards etc. It is part of a collection of about 40,000 glass plate negatives held now by the National Library. They bought up the collection when the photo business closed in the early 1900s. Seems a fair bet that the Central bank went to the Library for a photo for the banknote. Nice to see the original, no information was given as to who the piper was or where he was photographed". And there he is flipped and thwarted on the back of the old £50 note, the pipers note of choice, just ask your local neighbourhood pipemaker ;) If anyone has further information on him and his pipes could you please pass it on so I can include it here, thanks!

Follow Up 1: Jimmy O'Brien-Moran sent me this... "The lad on the fifty quid note is a piper named George McCartney as far as I know. He piped around Wicklow I think and the pipes look a lot like Egan, but who can be sure."

Follow Up 2: Kevin Rietmann follows with "A George McCartney or McCarthy is in O'Neill's book, one of Taylor's students. He was "lame," as they used put it. He played a Taylor set with a double chanter, which he later sold to O'Meally; a cylinder recording of him survives, playing an air, The Ancient Hill Of Slane. He is announced on the record as being from Co. Down. The old piper's smoking a pipe in what is called a "bulldog" shape, with a metal lid on it to keep rain out and wind from blowing the ashes out. They still make these, in Germany they were required on all pipes to prevent fires from starting."
Here is another great piece of piping memorabilia brought to us by our Norfolk correspondant Ken Ricketts. This is a picture of Tommy Reck showing the young son of flute player Michael O'Connor how to hold the chanter. I zoomed in on a section of Tommy's 19th century B set of Kenna pipes. Very nice.
Just found two great photos of Séamus Ennis that I hadn't seen before. Peter Kennedy is the fiddler. The quality isn't the May West but you take what you can get, eh!
Here are two nice shots. One of Felix Doran on his famous silver set and the other of Willie Clancy on what looks like a Alfonse Kennedy set, anyone know better?

Follow Up: From Jimmy O'Brien-Moran... "The set that the Clance is playing in the pic is a Moss Kennedy set (Alf is the son) completed around 1968 or 69 and owned by Sean P. MacCiarnain. It was almost new at the time of that tionol and there are several well known photos of the Clance playing this set. It used to be the picture on the WCSS programme complete with Easter lily on the lapel of his suit."

Willie Clancy singing "A Stór mo Chroí"»

willie clancy summer school 2003
Had a great time at Willie Week this year, 2003, and had the opportunity to play with some great musicians. Below you can see the photos I took during the week. Out of concern for my arms I didn't take as many pictures as I might have in the past. The B&B I was staying at was a bit outside of the town which didn't allow me to drop in and out. Once I was down in the town that was generally it for the day, so subsequently my pipes box and it's contents were left behind on a few occasssions. My travelling companion Michael Eskin took lot's of photos documenting the town and all the carryings on ::: Photos. Don't feel too sorry for me though, a stroke of good luck was about to fall on me. The class I attended was in my B&B so I was in fairly spritely shape after my massive fry and full pot of tea every morning as you can only imagine! "Coffee to wake you up, tea to keep you going!" My poor teacher this year was Mick O'Brien. An inspiration in itself was to witness Mick teach. His skill for presenting a triplet or some piece of technique was as if he was discussing a beautiful piece of sculpture. His enthusiasm for the music and getting his point across in a very democratic manner is to be highly commended.

The opportunity presented itself and a couple of sessions with Thomas Johnson and his lovely girlfriend Helena ensued, always a pleasure to see Thomas. The first was in the side room in Queally's and we were joined by Peter Laban who reluctantly played for two hours or so on my D set.... he didn't seem to mind though ;) You have to take note of how bright it was outside while we were playing, it was about 10:30PM when this photo was taken! ::: photo. One evening I couldn't help but think of Al Purcell. He used to tell me about the annual celebration for Joe Doyle's birthday and that if I ever could I should make a point of attending it. It was nice to be able to play in it myself this year. Happy Birthday Joe! ::: photo.

Finally met Martin Preshaw face to face. I built him a website a year or so ago and we have only ever communicated "electronically", the photos don't do him justice :) Also met Finbar McLoughlin of whom I had heard lot's of wonderful tales through the infamous yarn spinning of Paddy O'Neill. Had a pint or two with Tom Clarke during the week and early in the week we headed out to the Crosses of Annagh with the Maor of the shop, Gentleman Jim. Had some lovely tunes that afternoon with them and some great young fiddlers and a flute player who were up from Kerry if I remember correctly. Tommy Kearney was there all week and we could see him out walking in his Russian hat up the Ballard Road outside our class every day, he's an amazing man. A gent and a great inspiration! I was delighted to hear him talking about the pipes with the same enthusiasm a beginner would have.

Terry Moylan had the idea to hold a "Singing Session for Pipers" in the back of Friel's (completely new in the back now and very nice it is too. It's one of the best places to have a bite to eat and at the right price aswell!). I thought it to be a great idea so as to provide a central location for pipers to drop in and out as they pleased and be guaranteed of a few tunes or a song. I always found it funny that there were pubs specializing in singing or whatever but never one for the pipes! Hopefully this will start a new tradition! We were treated to a great few songs from Jimmy O'Brien-Moran, Nollaig "Two and a Half Song" McCarthaigh, Mick Coyne and Terry himself. I can't remember the other names but two wonderful lady singers graced us with their presence and their beautiful songs. Here's a photo of the event taking place off Michael Eskin's site ::: photo. Terry had a lovely looking set of C pipes in his lap, possibly by Crowley, just begging to be played so Mick O'Brien did the honours and treated us to a couple of flat tunes ::: photo. Eventually, when the people with songs had sung and the fingers were getting itchy the pipes came out. Mick Coyne played, only as Mick Coyne can, a bunch of tunes along with Nollaig, Dennis Brookes and a number of other musicians. Nollaig was gracious enough to let me have a go on his set as this was one occassion when I had left my pipes in the B&B, opting for the lighter option of tin whistle. Thanks for that Nollaig! Next time I want to try out the Coynes :)

The next firm memory I have is having a session out in Mullagh with the B crew. It was arranged and we all converged on Conway's in Mullagh. Thanks to Bill Haneman for bringing me out in his Morris Minor and for lending me *his* set. I had my pipes this time but for some reason I thought I'd be better bringing the D set only on this trip. How wrong I was! I could have had as many B tunes as D I think.... I'll know the next time I suppose :) Not having my pipes did present an interesting dynamic to the session where Emmett Gill and I took turns with Bill Haneman and Harry Bradley on their B sets, a form of rotation took place that was quite unique. It was a wonderful session and in my mind legendary! In there clockwise from where I was sitting were Emmett Gill, Harry Bradley, Liz Kane, Jesse Smith, Kevin Glackin, Jimmy O'Brien-Moran, James Kelly and Bill Haneman... great stuff. At one point Jesse and James played a duet that was weightless!! Amazing!! What a way to round off the week!

Michael and I headed back to Dublin on the Friday afternoon after Seán McKeon's recital and a group photo skillfully wrangled by the loud chords of Edmund Tunney... amazing how he got that shower to line up for a photo! Never in all my born days....! :) We stopped off in Ennis on the way for a bite to eat and to pick up some CD's at Custy's Shop. Between us we bought Mick O'Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh's "Kitty Lie Over", "The Tap Room Trio" which is Harry Bradley, Jesse Smith and John Blake and I should mention that in Dublin we picked up Neillidh Mulligan's "An Tobar Glé" and Tommy Kearney's "The Master Piper's - Vol. II" all well worth getting btw!
The afternoon recital's and Mik O'Brien treat's us to tunes on both his Willie Rowsome D and his Alain Froment B sets.
Queally's Pub and a nice session with Thomas Johnson and Peter Laban. I convinced Peter to play my D set... a rarity in itself.. but he did and seemed to enjoy it too :) It was nice to have tunes with Thomas and his friends too, good friendly bunch of people.
More tunes in Queally's.
Peter Laban doing his afternoon recital in the Mill Hall.
Michael Eskin listening in to Peter playing his recital.
Mick and Niall Lyons in the class at Fitzgerald's house. Handy enough as this just so happened to be the B&B I was staying at aswell! :) In this shot Mick is playing a set made by an apprentice to Cillian O'Briain whose name escapes me (tell me and I'll correct this - Okay, the makers name is Maurice Reviol and he has a website - Ed.) The set belongs to a fellow student in the class, Elvin Moynagh from Dublin.
"Put down that bleedin' camera".. ;) Niall & Mick.
Mick playing his own Willie Rowsome set with his Froment chanter. You can clearly see his new A drone in this shot along side his tenor regulator.
"Leave on the little finger". Niall & Mick again.
Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Seán Connolly... am I right lads?
Seán McCarthy from Cork.
Mick playing again :) This time a slow air "An Páistín Fionn" I believe. Also in the class but not pictured (he made an early escape) was Mark Redmond from Wexford.
This really tops off the week! Do you recognise this amadáin? I was sent it by Jimmy O'Brien-Moran but I still can't figure out who it is??? It was taken by Mich G. Nielson from Denmark, thanks for letting me use the photo Mich!
Yep... you read it right... Miltown Malbay was the host town to Kazakhstan in the Special Olympics this year. A very likely pairing in my opinion.
There's me holding up the sign for Miltown Malbay on the Ennis Road.
Michael's turn now :)
Swan's having a bite on the River Fergus which meanders through Ennis.
Michael having a bit of cake and a cuppa before we hit the road again back up to Dublin.
Michael Taking photos in Ennis.

Had a wee flight of fancy there last Saturday night. I played at a wedding in the evening, went home and had dinner with Joy, then after being alerted to it earlier in the day decided to go down to San Diego for a few tunes with Maurice Bradley at Michael Eskin's house. Maurice is visiting at the moment from Derry. I met Gabriel at his house where he had a piper in the making named Tommy ready for a night out too... I felt sorry for Tommy, he was thrown in the deep end that night! We took Gaby's car and picked up Maurice on the way in Oceanside... then on to the Eskin residence. We got there about 11:30 I believe and I think the sight of three pipe cases coming through the door scared the fiddlers and whistlers out the back door ;) We played away until about 3AM and then decided it was time to hit the road. It was great to meet Maurice and have the few tunes with him, handy man on the fiddle too as the photos reveal.


Rarr.... I hear you say. This is a fine specimen of a Taylor chanter. Note the keys are in blocks similar to Barry O'Neill's shown above. Thanks to Kevin Rietmann for these.
Here's an interesting old document from An Píobaire Volume 02, Issue 17, 1983, members can reference it through the Archive at www.pipers.ie. It's an old poster featuring the "Northern" piper R.L. O'Mealy. Eamonn Ceant, never one to repress his opinions, gives a slight disertation on poor Richard as follows:

"Under the heading Cursai an tSaoghail in An Piobaire 111 (1901-2)Eamonn Ceannt, after castigating the adjudication at the Munster Feis, goes on to ridicule the costume worn by O'Mealy,almost certainly that depicted above -

Professor Thompson of Cork, and Mr. Mealy of Belfast,also a professor, played at the evening concerts upon the Union Pipes. Thompson was wretched and Mealy spoiled his playing by the ridiculous costume he wore. It must be bome in mind'that the Union Pipes are not much over a century and a half in vogue. That before this period the last relic of Irish national dress had disappeared and then ask your grandfathers and grandmothers if they ever beheld a piper in a long-tailed green coat, a yellow kneebreeches,blue stocking and buckled shoes, not forgetting a patch near the throat which was covered by a loose cloth resembling a handkerchief. Mr Mealy also wore spectacles and a beard while performing.

One hears occasional references to the Ulster style of piping and the names of O'Mealy and Brother Gildas are mentioned as exponents of that style. O'Mealy was born in Westmeath and he learned his piping there. He spent some time working in Cork before moving to Belfast. His style of piping cannot be related in anyway to his residence in that city. Brother Gildas, a Kerryman, acquired his style and music from James Burke, who lived at Kilfrush, Co.Tipperary,while a novice in the De La Salle house in Hospital, Limerick. Gildas visited Burke during the years 1913-18 until Burke declared he had nothing more to teach him.

Burke was a pupil of Fraher, a Munster piper,who flourished around 1800.His name is commemorated in the tune title, Fraher's jig,a tune Gildas got from Burke but which now owes its currency to Willie Clancy who picked it off a notation made by the Brother.

Gildas was for many years headmaster at the De La-salles schools in Downpatrick and Belfast. He was friendly with O'Mealy. His style of piping was altogether different from that of O'Mealy and to say either style was indigenous to Ulster is altogether wide of the mark.
"

Interestingly, this is the very James Bourke that owned Jimmy O'Brien-Moran's set of Colgan pipes. Jimmy play's a set of tunes in tribute to these men on his album "Seán Reid's Favourite", the tunes being the double jigs James Bourke's & Fraher's.

Ken Ricketts sent me this photo of O'Meally out of O'Neill's to augment the poster. Ken also sent me another page from the An Píobaire in discussion here. This image shows James Bourke and Brother Gildas posing with their pipes, Master & Pupil! This set in Mr. Bourke's lap may be the very set that Jimmy play's today! Thanks again for these Ken.
From the NPU site: Liam Ó Floinn on Séamus Ennis' passing:

I first met Seamus Ennis about sixteen years ago at a music session in Pat Dowling's pub in Prosperous,Co.Kildare. I had been a keen admirer of his music for many years before that, but had never ventured to make his acquaintance without some introduction. Alarm and delight combined when I saw him come through the door that night. However, during the course of the evening his kind and helpful remarks dispelled the fears and his offer of full assistance at any time gave great confidence and courage to a young piper. It was this willingness to impart his knowledge and skills he demonstrated many times afterwards.

On one occasion he invited Sean Keane, Tommy Grogan and myself to play with him at a reception in Dublin. For the occasion he called our "outfit" "The Halfpenny Bridge Quartet". We did a few other gigs after that and they were always great fun. In 1971 Seamus and myself along with my brother took a flat in Pembroke Rd; It was during this time he recorded the Albums "The Pure Drop" and "Music at the Gate", now reissued as "The Fox Chase", performing the amazing feat of recording both albums in the same evening, with as I remember,only two retakes.

In 1972 we moved to a house in Terenure, during which time Seamus, along with Patrick Sky as producer, made that very fine double album "Forty Years of Piping". Over the years Seamus the man and his music made quite an impact on me, indeed as he did on everyone with whom he came in contact. His was a strong and indepent nature. He had a belief in himself, and a just pride in what he had accomplished sustained him during years of indifference on the part of the public.It was only latterly that the least public acclaim was extended to his achievements.

Seamus was meticulous, as is evidenced in the precision and accuracy of his playing. His extraordinary utility to reform and reshape a tune so that it fitted the chanter perfectly sprang from a complete mastery and understanding of his instrument.He possessed great technical skill and brilliance, allied with a great depth of feeling. His taste was impeccable. He never aimed to impress by showing off; restraint and elegance were the hallmark of his piping.

I am grateful for having known Seamus. I feel I have gained some insight into his music and am priviledged on that account. The beauty and intensity of his music will be ever a guiding star for myself and for all musicians and music lovers who come to know it. Liam Ó Floinn

Here are some photos of a beautiful old Egan set pitched in “C” recently restored by Dave Williams. Thanks to Ken Ricketts for these.

This set turned up on eBay last week (today being the 8th of Sept. 2003). It looks to be a Willie Rowesome set with a couple of chanters, maybe three, in the Taylor style possibly by Patsy Browne. Taking into consideration that the artists eye may have misinterpreted the stock area there is a possibility that it is the set William Rowesome is photographed holding in O'Neill's publications and later painted ::: more»

They were bought today with quite a flurry of activity as the closing bids came in. It will be very interesting to see this set re-emerge refurbished and playing well.... let's hope that's a possibility!

  • Click Here to read the live comments of interested parties.
  • Click Here to see the eBay page it was listed on.
  • Here's another Finbar Furey album cover. This one submitted by Ken Ricketts in relation to a Chiff & Fipple topic regarding the maker of Fin's pipes. Any that cares to join in the blather click here.
    Here's a great old photo I found on Paul Eliasbergs wonderful website. I think it might possibly be of John Doherty's father due to the exhibition it is in etc.??? I remember from the book "The Northern Fiddler" that he and many members of that family played both Highland and Union pipes as well as fiddle.

    There are also some amazing photos of sets of pipes by O'Meally and possibly Egan and Kenna... and is that the five regulator set by Moloney in there too? Serious drool potential on his pages folks! Paul can you tell us more... I wasn't able to find this page in English. The exhibition looks like the one that was at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Cultrá... possibly??? :)

    Follow Up: Robbie Hannan sent me this information: "The new picture on your site is Turlough McSweney. O'Neill has lots on him as does Caoimhín Mac Aoidh in 'Betweeen the Jigs and Reels'. According to that book Mc Sweeney's pipes are on display in the Franciscan Friary, Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal."
    We had a great SCUPC meeting on October the 5th, 2003. Lot's of familiar faces and some new ones too. It's great to see the young guys getting into it! Keep it up fellas!
    The "Northern Flying Column Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club" (aka. the N.F.C.S.C.U.P.C.) had another auspicious meeting on the evening of October 18th, 2003. A great night was had by all. Piper of note, Barry O'Neill, took some photos with his newfangled digital camera. Here we have a shot of the group at the table playing and eating and drinking... the usual fair. Next to that is one of Gabriel McKeagney playing a Geoff Wooff set. Then we have Michael O'Donovan playing his Michael Hubbert set. You may notice the bass reg has been removed; rest assured, it's merely for learning purposes. The chanter he is playing is a boxwood prototype in C by Michael Hubbert of an Egan chanter. There may be another event in the region shortly at the W.A.B.N.F.C.S.C.U.P.C. so stay tuned! :)
    Here are two photos from the Tara records website of Planxty in thier heyday and Davy Spillane nice close look at Davy's pipes there.
    Here is a fabulous old painting the name to the best of my knowledge is "The Itinerant Irish Piper". I have no other information on it. If you do please email it to me here. Also, if you know of other works of art featuring pipers of an Irish ilk please let me know about them.
    From Carel Lanters: "I send you a picture of a nice work of a korean artist Lee Eun young above her work is the 90 cm print of the piper - Carel" This is from an exhibition in Holland that Carel is taking part in.
    Here is a nice addition to the items sent to me by Kevin Rietmann. It's an old LP featuring Tommy Reck on the cover. Kevin says "Tommy doesn't play on it near as I can tell." Maybe he's playing the whistle on it? This photo looks to be at the Abbey also.
    Another Abbey Tavern album cover from Kevin Rietmann... where do you get these Kevo? Looks like Tommy Reck borrowed the set Kevin Rowsome now plays which was made by Leo Rowsome. He is using a different chanter, possibly a fruit wood one, but the chanter top is the same as Kevin's. More info to follow hopefully.
    For a full report and photographs on the 2003 Southern California Tionól with guests Kevin Rowsome, Benedict Koehler and Brian McNamara please visit the Southern California Uilleann Pipers Club website ::: more»
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