From student to master; Joe Byrne’s piping exhibition a fitting reward for a gifted scholar
Press release on behalf of Na Píobairí Uilleann
Saturday February 26th, 2022
Joe Byrne, Uilleann Piping from Co Kildare (The Ace and Deuce of Piping #5)
Na Píobairí Uilleann is delighted to announce the publication of Joe Byrne, Uilleann Piping from Co Kildare, the fifth release in NPU’s Ace and Deuce of Piping recording series.
Joe, from Athy in Co Kildare, has produced a recording of outstanding quality, featuring many classic tunes performed in a manner redolent of the great piping masters yet very much with his own individual, accomplished stamp.
As one of the first students to follow a learning pathway introduced by NPU and Music Generation some years back when he enrolled in the Laois piping classes under Gay McKeon’s guidance, Joe Byrne took his initial steps on a practice set acquired through NPU’s Pipes on Loan programme funded by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme.
And not only has Joe become a leading practitioner, he is also a consummate reed-maker and has completed a course in uilleann pipe-making at NPU’s PipeCraft training centre in partnership with the ‘Ceoltóir’ course at Ballyfermot College of Further Education.
He now teaches regularly for Music Generation and Na Píobairí Uilleann and is a regular performer and teacher at traditional music events nationwide.
Joe Byrne, Uilleann Piping from Co Kildare is available to purchase on www.pipers.ie. This album will be launched as a part of the Leo Rowsome Commemorative Event on Saturday 26th February at 9pm.
Further Information contact Maeve Gillen maeve@pipers.ie tel: +353-1-8730093
About Na Píobairí Uilleann
Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU), the Society of Uilleann Pipers was founded in 1968 when there were less than 100 uilleann pipers remaining. Today NPU is a thriving arts organisation dedicated to Sharing the Sound of Ireland through Access, Education, Performance and Preservation.
Since unveiling its restored Georgian premises at 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin, in January 2007, NPU has been busy catering for the expanding demand for regular tuition, as well as releasing a number of significant publications and recordings. With demand for pipes considerably exceeding supply, a dedicated Training Centre – PipeCraft – was established in 2011 to deliver training in the very highly skilled craft of uilleann pipemaking.
NPU is accredited to UNESCO as a competent NGO in the field of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).
NPU lobbied the Irish Government to ratify the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage which resulted in the inclusion of Uilleann Piping on the UNESCO representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2017.
Na Píobairí Uilleann’s primary funding agencies include the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Dublin City Council.
Na Píobairí Uilleann, 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, Ireland
W: www.pipers.ie E:info@pipers.ie P: +353-1-8730093
Facebook: www.facebook.com/napiobairiuilleann
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Napiobairi
