NPU extends congratulations to Louise Mulcahy on receipt of Markievicz Award from The Arts Council
Press Release on behalf of Na Píobairí Uilleann, 9 April 2021
Na Píobairí Uilleann would like to convey its congratulations to uilleann piper Louise Mulcahy who today was presented with The Arts Council’s Markievicz Award by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD.
From a well-known musical family in Abbeyfeale on the Limerick-Kerry border, Louise has performed and recorded extensively both in Ireland and internationally, with her father, Mick and sister, Michelle. As a solo artist, Louise’s first solo production, ‘Tuning the Road’ was released in 2014 and she was part of Na Píobairí Uilleann’s ‘A New Dawn’ publication of young pipers released in 1999.
A leading researcher into the history of women in uilleann piping, Louise has been an active member of Na Píobairí Uilleann since first attending classes as a student and is now a regular contributor as a teacher and performer. Louise frequently performs on the prestigious Alain Froment set of pipes on loan from NPU bequeathed to the organisation by the late Liam O’Flynn.
Speaking about today’s announcement, Na Píobairí Uilleann Chief Executive Gay McKeon commented: “On behalf of NPU and indeed the piping community I’d like to pass on our very best wishes to Louise who has been a wonderful ambassador for piping and traditional music and a most worthy recipient of this significant award. I wish her the very best in her continued musical and research endeavours.”
Administered by The Arts Council on behalf of the Dept. of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, The Markievicz Award, worth €25,000 to recipients, was established to honour Constance Markievicz – herself an artist – as the first woman to be elected to Parliament and appointed to cabinet and is intended to provide support for artists from all backgrounds and genres to provide time and space in order to develop new work that reflects on the role of women in the period covered by the decade of centenaries 2012–2023 and beyond.
About Na Píobairí Uilleann
Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU), the Society of Uilleann Pipers, was founded in 1968 when there were fewer 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 pipe making.
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: 00353(0)1 8730093
