Gay Mc Keon was on the Board of Na Píobairí Uilleann from 1987, when he became Secretary. He subsequently served for five years as Treasurer and was the Chairman from 2002 until 2006 when he took on the job of CEO. He comes from a Dublin family noted for their involvement in Irish music – his father Tom was one of the activists who kept the Dublin Pipers Club running in the mid years of the last century. He is surrounded by piping; his brother Tomás and his two sons Conor and Seán also play. Along with his sons Gay has made two CDs, Irish Piping Tradition (1997) and The Dusty Miller (2005).
Email: gay@pipers.ie
Daniela Ferretti is an uilleann piper and Administrator at Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU), a position she has held since 2021. She holds a degree in Contemporary Music from the University of Macerata, Italy, and went on to build a career in the advertising industry before settling in Dublin. Drawing on her background in design and craftsmanship, she has also developed over a decade of expertise in the making of bags and bellows for uilleann pipes. A long-standing contributor to NPU, she has been closely involved in the organisation of International Uilleann Piping Day since its inception.
Email: daniela@pipers.ie
Emmett Gill has been a piper and member of Na Píobairí Uilleann from an early age. He began piping at the London Pipers’ Club in Camden Town.
He has regularly taught for Na Píobairí Uilleann and served as a board member from 2011. His professional background is in administration and financial services.
Emmett has made two CDs, The Mountain Groves (2007) and a duet with fiddle player Jesse Smith The Rookery (2012).
Email: emmett@pipers.ie
Éanna Harrington started learning to play the uilleann pipes under the guidance of Pádraig Sinnott at age 11. A native of Co. Wexford, Éanna cites Wexford pipers Ned Wall, Brendan Wickham and Mark Redmond as his influences. He studied History & Nua-Ghaeilge at Maynooth University and spent a number of years working in the agricultural sector.
Email: eanna@pipers.ie
Tommy Martin has been a member of Na Píobairí Uilleann since 1984 when he first took lessons with Mick O’Brien in 15 Henrietta St.
He has had a career as a professional musician performing with shows like Riverdance, Celtic Woman and An Irish Christmas In America as well as the group Teada. Tommy has been an uilleann pipes, whistle and flute maker since 2005 and teaches chanter making at the Pipecraft Training Center.
Tommy has recorded two albums of traditional Irish music – Uilleann Piper (2001) and Shady Woods (2006), as well as appearing on dozens of albums as a guest piper.
Email: tommy@pipers.ie
Alison Cummins holds a BA (Hons) Degree in English Literature and German Language from Trinity College, Dublin. As Communications Officer for Na Píobairí Uilleann, Alison is responsible for NPU’s social media campaigns, marketing and promotion. She also assists in the preparation of grant applications and event management.
Email: alison@pipers.ie