Death of piper Liam O’Flynn – Honorary President of Na Píobairí Uilleann

14 March 2018

Na Píobairí Uilleann (The Society of Uilleann Pipers) announces the death of its Honorary President Liam O’Flynn. During his life Liam was a great ambassador for Irish traditional music throughout Ireland and around the world. Liam was a wonderful musician, as a solo uilleann piper and as a member of Planxty in the 1970s and 1980s.

Liam’s collaborations with Seán Davey included performing in the suite of music The Brendan Voyage and other pioneering orchestral works created to feature the uilleann pipes. His performances with such artists as Kate Bush, Emmylou Harris, and Mark Knopfler brought his music and uilleann piping to worldwide audiences. Liam’s collaboration with poet the Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney united two of Ireland’s artistic giants.

From a musical family in County Kildare, Liam learned the pipes with Leo Rowsome at the School of Music in Dublin, and was also greatly influenced by the playing of legendary pipers Willie Clancy and Séamus Ennis. He has been an inspiration to generations of pipers, with his tuition, performances, and solo recordings being a great source of repertoire for emerging players.

Liam was a founding member of Na Píobairí Uilleann, having attended and performed at the first gathering of the organisation in Bettystown, County Meath, in 1968.

Na Píobairí Uilleann extends its sympathies to Liam’s wife Jane and to his extended family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.