Notes & Narratives: Mikie Smyth

Mikie Smyth – “RL O’Mealy – Belfast’s Virtuoso Uilleann Piper, Pipemaker, Teacher and Broadcaster of the early 20^th Century”

Born in County Westmeath in 1873, Richard Lewis O’Mealy was an Irish piper, pipemaker and broadcaster. O’Mealy was one of the first pipers to compete at the Feis Ceoil in 1897 and later won prizes at the Oireachtas for his pioneering pipemaking. One of the most influential figures in Irish piping in the twentieth century, O’Mealy lived most of his adult life in Belfast, regularly performing at events on the radio. Celebrated recordings O’Mealy’s piping were made by the BBC in 1943.

Mikie Smyth will explore the life, times and piping of R.L. O’Mealy and illustrate this event selections of his own piping.

Mikie Smyth began playing the pipes over 30 years ago. His first teachers were Colm De Brun and Andy Conroy in the Pipers Club in Henrietta Street, Dublin. Through the club Mikie had the opportunity and privilege to learn from and play with many of the great pipers who were always so generous with their time and expertise.

Mikie has been invited to teach at most of Ireland’s summer schools including the Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, South Sligo summer school, Joe Mooney summer school, Keadue summer school, Scoil Acla and Scoil Eigse. He has given workshops in the USA, Europe, Japan and New Zealand to mention a few. Mikie has worked with third level students in U.L., T.U.D., U.C.D., U.C.C. and T.C.D. Mikie has performed both as a soloist and with shows (Riverdance and Ragus etc) in over 30 countries across 5 continents. Mikie has recorded a solo album ‘The Wild Keys’ and has also recorded with Donal Lunny, Maurice Lennon, Sean Keane and ‘The Rubberbandits’ to mention a few. 

Notes & Narratives will take place at Na Píobairí Uilleann, 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, starting at 8:30pm on Thursday 21st September 2023. Admission is €10 (unwaged / student / retired €5). For those unable to attend in person, it will also be live streamed for free through our channel NPU-TV.

Na Píobairí Uilleann presents Notes & Narratives – a series of monthly performance-based lectures on traditional music, song and dance by some of Ireland’s finest traditional artists.

Supported by The Arts Council.