In early 2022, NPU filmed a series of reedmaking videos with expert reedmakers Donnacha Dwyer, Finbar Furey and Dave Hegarty.

The videos featured detailed demonstrations from each reedmaker of their personal approach to making concert pitch chanter reeds.

The series was filmed by uilleann piper and film maker Maitiú Ó Casaide with assistance from piper and reedmaker, Ultan Mac Gabhann.

Donnacha and Finbar were filmed in NPU’s building in Henrietta Street, Dublin and Dave was filmed at his home in Tralee, Co. Kerry.

We hope that this series of reedmaking videos will be of interest to reedmakers of all levels, pipers and anyone with an interest in the art of uilleann piping and crafts in Ireland.

This series was made possible through support from the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, Network Support Scheme 2021. Special thanks are due to the participating reedmakers Donnacha, Finbar and Dave for readily sharing their knowledge and experience.

The videos are available to all view on the website. As with all content on our website, no log-in or subscription are required to view the material:

Donnacha Dwyer

Finbar Furey

Dave Hegarty

We have just updated our website section on suggestions when buying pipes.

This section should be useful to anyone who is planning to purchase a set of pipes for the first time.

Please take a look and if you have any feedback or suggestions, please contact us via email: info@pipers.ie

Buying

Annual Report 2018 is now available.

For a full Review and Audited Accounts for 2018 click on the link below.

Click the image to view the report.

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.

Scholarships

Na Píobairí Uilleann will award six piping scholarships for 2018.

Successful applicants can attend piping classes at any of the following :

• Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy – Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
• South Sligo Summer School – Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo,
• Scoil Acla – Cashel, Achill Island, Co. Mayo
• Joe Mooney Summer School – Drumshambo, Co. Leitrim.
• Catskills Irish Arts Week – East Durham , N.Y.
• Ceol na Coille – Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Application must by supported by recordings of solo piping by the applicant.

See application form for terms and conditions.

Closing date for NPU Summer School Scholarships is Friday 27th April 2018

To download the NPU Scholarship Application form – Scholarship Application Form 2018

Oineach Mhuiris Uí Rócháin

Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy will again award Oineach Mhuiris Uí Rócháin, a Family Scholarship in honour of Muiris Ó Rócháín.

Oineach Mhuiris Uí Rócháin is open to any family with two or more family members wishing to attend classes at the Summer School. Oineach Mhuiris Uí Rócháin will entitle the family to use of a three bedroom house during Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy and free access to classes for up to four family members either adults or children.

The committee of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy have again asked Na Píobairí Uilleann to review the applications and award the scholarship.

To download the application form Click Here and email to emmett@pipers.ie or post to

Oineach Mhuiris Uí Rócháin
Na Píobairí Uilleann
15 Henrietta St.
Dublin 1

Closing date for applications is 27th April 2018 and the Oineach Mhuiris Uí Rócháin scholarship will be awarded in May 2018.

Following the announcement of UNESCO recognition for uilleann piping, here are links to some of the media coverage.

BROADCAST TV

RTE TV 6 O’Clock News, Thursday, December 7, 2017

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2017/1207/925595-uilleann-pipes-unesco/

(see Gay McKeon interview clip within the link)

BROADCAST RADIO

Newstalk FM, Thursday, December 7, 2017

https://www.newstalk.com/President-Higgins-welcomes-UNESCO-recognition-of-Uilleann-piping

RTE Radio 1 John Bowman Sunday, Sunday, December 10, 2017

https://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=b9%5F10811673%5F67%5F10%2D12%2D2017%5F

RTE Radio 1 Sean O’Rourke Show (starts at 35:40)

https://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=b9%5F21291847%5F15036%5F22%2D12%2D2017%5F

RTE Radio 1 Arena, Wednesday, December 20, 2017
https://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=b9%5F21291185%5F1526%5F20%2D12%2D2017%5F

PRINT & DIGITAL

The Irish News, Thursday, December 7. 2017

https://www.irishnews.com/news/republicofirelandnews/2017/12/08/news/unesco-recognition-for-uilleann-pipes-1205361/

The Irish Times, Friday, December 8, 2017

The Irish Independent, Friday, December 8, 2017

Irish Daily Star, Friday, December 8, 2017

(see images below  for the above picture stories)

The Irish Times, Wednesday, December 13, 2017

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/kathy-sheridan-city-of-culture-farce-pretty-much-sums-up-brexit-1.3324608

ONLINE

RTE.ie, Thursday, December 7, 2017

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2017/1207/925595-uilleann-pipes-unesco/

The Journal.ie, Thursday, December 7, 2017

https://www.thejournal.ie/uilleann-pipes-unesco-heritage-3737897-Dec2017/

Extra.ie, Thursday, December 7, 2017

https://extra.ie/news/irish-news/irish-uileann-pipes-get-unique-cultural-heritage-symbol-by-unesco

INTERNATIONAL / DIASPORA

Irish Central, Friday, December 8, 2017

https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/uilleann-pipes-unesco-status

The Irish World, Wednesday, December 13, 2017

https://www.theirishworld.com/unesco-gives-special-status-uileann-pipes/

LOCAL & TOURISM MEDIA (to date)

Donegal Now, Thursday, December 7, 2017

https://www.donegalnow.com/news/gaoth-dobhair-uillean-pipers-entertained-actor-brendan-gleeson-dublin-today/198481

Clare FM, Thursday, December 7, 2017

https://www.clare.fm/news/willie-clancy-summer-school-instrumental-bringing-unesco-recognition-uilleann-pipes/

Go Dublin, Thursday, December 7, 2017

https://www.godublin.info/news/1886416

https://vimeo.com/246255692

 NPULouiseMulcahy 45 sec.m4v

The Irish Independent, Friday, December 8, 2017

Irish Daily Star, Friday, December 8, 2017

​

The Irish Times, Friday, December 8, 2017

l-r Niamh Landale, Brendan Gleeson, Irial Ó Casaide and Gay McKeon, CEO, pipers.ie in the background

l-r foreground Irial Ó Casaide, Brendan Gleeson and Niamh Landale
l-r background Gay McKeon, CEO, pipers.ie and Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh TD

l-r Irial O’Casaide, Gay McKeon, CEO, pipers.ie, Brendan Gleeson and Niamh Landale

l-r Niamh Landale and Brendan Gleeson

l-r Niamh Landale, Christine Sisk, Director, Culture Ireland, Brendan Gleeson and Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh TD and Irial Ó Casaide

The UNESCO twelfth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, in the Republic of Korea’s Jeju island has ratified its decision to include Uilleann Piping on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This important global accolade reflects heritage cultural practices that are considered to enrich all of humanity. UNESCO has now agreed that Irish Uilleann Piping – often referred to as “The Sound of Ireland” – merits this recognition. As a result, the distinctive Irish musical art-form joins such other cultural expressions as the Argentinian Tango, the Armenian Duduk and its music, and the Baul songs of Bangladesh.

Older than Guinness, the Uilleann Pipes descend from an instrument introduced in the 1740’s and were known as “The Irish Pipes”. A sophisticated instrument that provides more musical possibilities than any other type of bagpipe due to three different streams of sound, Uilleann Piping declined in the 19^th century and was successfully revived in the 20^th century.

Now in 2017, it’s a thriving art form in both Ireland and worldwide where it is celebrated in 50 countries and on six continents in places as diverse as Cuba, Finland, Australia, Argentina and Germany. There are more than three thousand Uilleann Pipers throughout the world, playing Irish music on this Irish instrument in dedicated clubs throughout Europe and in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Na Píobairí Uilleann (www.pipers.ie), the body dedicated to access, education, performance and preservation of Uilleann Piping and pipemaking, has announced free access to its online learning and performance portal in addition to a fascinating archive celebrating a rich cultural history https://pipers.ie/source/

The UNESCO announcement follows the Irish Government’s nomination of Uilleann Piping to the List.  Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD said: “Today’s decision is testament to the community of Uilleann Pipers across the country who, since the 1960s, have succeeded in their mission to stop the decline in the playing and making of the uilleann pipes. The success today is a real community effort from Na Píobairí Uilleann, Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, the Armagh Pipers Club, and other organisations and individuals who have contributed to the resurgence of interest in Uilleann Piping, in Ireland and around the world.”

“Ar an lá stairiúil seo, cuimhnímís ar na píobairí iomráiteacha a choinnigh an traidisiún seo beo – leithéidí Eamonn Ceannt, Willie Clancy, Seamus Ennis agus daoine nach iad. Is cinnte go mbeadh siad bródúil inniu as a gcuid oibre thar na blianta.”

Gay McKeon CEO of Na Píobairí Uilleann (www.pipers.ie) and himself a celebrated player said: “Today is a global milestone for Uilleann Piping and shines a world-wide spotlight on The Irish Pipes. From movies to TV and now video games, there are new opportunities opening up all the time that showcase the versatility of the instrument and its distinctive sound.

We thank supporters for their enthusiasm and would encourage people to discover the pleasure of playing and attending performances at home and abroad.

“Na Píobairí Uilleann would like to thank the Irish Government for its UNESCO nomination and those officials of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht who accepted the case that was made for the nomination of Uilleann Piping, and who energetically promoted that cause. Also, the Arts Council /An Chomhairle Ealaoin have been an invaluable source of support throughout the process and in our daily work.

Finally, we would like to thank the many groups and individual practitioners in the world of Uilleann Piping who support us – it’s an inspiring world-wide, community devoted to this wonderful music.”

You can view the UNESCO proceedings here:

Tionól 2017, 3-5 November

Following on from the success of last year’s Tionól, we are delighted to announce that Music Generation Laois, with the support of the Music Generation National Development Office National Projects funding and the Trench Trust, will deliver a Tionól for Harps and Pipes in Portlaoise from the 3 to the 5 November 2017.

The purpose of this weekend is to bring together pipers and harpists and their Tutors from Music Generations throughout Ireland, for a weekend of workshops, sessions and performances, including an opportunity for students to get workshops from well-known non MG guest tutors including Catriona McKay (harp), David Power (pipes), Tríona Marshall (harp) & Michael Rooney (harp).

A range of classes are available, open to all students from recent beginners to advanced in the harp and uilleann pipes. Tutors include:

Harp: Siobhan Buckley, Michael Rooney, Catriona McKay, Tríona Marshall, Ramune Sakalauskaite, Deirdre Ní Bhuachalla and Gráinne Hambly

Uilleann Pipes: Fionnán MacGabhann, Joseph Byrne, David Power, Timothy Doyle and Paul Harrigan

Booking

€70 fee includes workshops and all concert tickets. To book, email musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie or phone 057-8664176.

Supervision

Under 18s will be supervised during break times unless alternative arrangements are made by parents/guardians.

Concerts

Friday 3 November

Opening Gala Concert featuring the premiere of a newly composed suite of music by Michael Rooney for the Music Generation Laois Harp Orchestra, Tionól Tutors, Michael and June Rooney and the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra taking place in the Portlaoise Further Education & Training Centre, Tower Hill at 7pm.

Free admission to students of the Tionól/ General public €5. Booking through the Dunamaise Arts Centre 057 8663355 or Dunamaise.ie

Saturday 4 November

Concert featuring Tionól participants from across Ireland and guest harp ensembles in the Dunamaise Arts Centre at 7pm.

Free admission to students of the Tionól/ General public €5. Booking through the Dunamaise Arts Centre 057 8663355 or Dunamaise.ie

Sunday 5 November

Closing Student Concert: Tionól 2017 – featuring students from the Tionól taking place in the Portlaoise Further Education and Training Centre, Tower Hill, Portlaoise, 2pm.

Admission free of charge, on a first come-first serve basis on the door.

The next Teacher Development Workshop will take place at Na Píobairí Uilleann on Saturday 28^th October from 2pm to 5.30pm.

The workshop will be hosted by Nollaig Mac Cárthaigh and is aimed at pipers who would like to teach the pipes or are teaching and would like to develop their teaching skills.

This series of workshops will provide the opportunity to learn from experienced piping teachers. This course will focus on teaching techniques and provide practical advice on teaching the pipes.

A limited number of places are available and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

There is no charge for the workshop.

If you would like to attend the workshop on Saturday 28^th October at Na Píobairí Uilleann please email info@pipers.ie or phone 01-8730093.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Arts Office has just advertised a Traditional Music Commission per cent for art commission focusing on the creation of new work.

The budget for the commission is €18,000 inclusive.

The deadline for submissions is Thursday 2 November at 5.00pm.  Full details are available below:

https://www.dlrcoco.ie/en/arts/public-art-art-collections/current-public-art-programme/current-public-art-opportunites