NPU Achieves Investors in Diversity Silver Award

Press Release on behalf of Na Píobairí Uilleann

 

Monday 23 January 2023

Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU) is delighted to have achieved the Investors in Diversity Silver Award from the Irish Centre for Diversity.

The Award reflects the successful work carried out to date by NPU to embed Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) across the organisation, work that is increasingly important given the diverse interest in the uilleann pipes, both nationally and globally, and the emergence of new voices in Ireland.

NPU Chief Executive Gay McKeon said: “We are delighted with the progress made by Na Píobairí Uilleann to date which has been endorsed by the receipt of this Award. It is a very significant milestone in our journey, striving for excellence in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion.

We have worked to champion these values across our activities and to show leadership in this area, and we are committed to the ongoing process of improvement.

NPU will continue to work with the Irish Centre for Diversity to ensure that we reach all sectors of society, at home and abroad, and that we continue to assert the critical importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.”

In November 2021 NPU achieved the Investors in Diversity Bronze Award and since then the organisation has continued to place equality, diversity and inclusion as a key priority on our agenda of ongoing process improvement. Achievement of the Silver Award is a Strategic Priority of the NPU Organisational Strategy, Sharing the Sound of Ireland 2022-2024.

NPU was recognised with the award following an analysis of its work, policies, training and a series of staff interviews in relation to diversity and inclusion. A commitment to continuous improvement is a goal shared by both organisations and NPU will now prepare for the next step of the journey in enhancing its status further.

Irish Centre for Diversity Managing Director, Caroline Tyler comments: “Congratulations to all the team at Na Píobairí Uilleann on achieving Investors in Diversity Silver. We look forward to working with them on the next stage of their journey and celebrating the impact across the whole organisation – both across Ireland and globally.”

Investors in Diversity is Ireland’s premier EDI performance accreditation mark. The programme supports the journey of continuous improvement by providing a structured framework to transform practices and culture. This accreditation complements the Safe to Create programme, a Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media initiative, adopted by NPU in November 2022.

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 many 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 by UNESCO as a competent Non-governmental Organisation 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.

In 2023, NPU achieved the Investors in Diversity Silver Award from the Irish Centre for Diversity.

Na Píobairí Uilleann’s primary funding agencies include The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and Dublin City Council.

Na Píobairí Uilleann, 15 Henrietta St., Dublin 1, Ireland

Tel: +353-1-8730093

Email: info@pipers.ie

Website: www.pipers.ie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/napiobairiuilleann

Twitter: www.twitter.com/napiobairi

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Baineann NPU Gradam Airgid d’Infheisteoirí san Ilghnéitheacht amach

Preasráiteas ó Na Píobairí Uilleann

Dé Luain 23ú Eanáir

Tá an-áthas ar Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU) an Gradam Airgid d’Infheisteoirí san Ilghnéitheacht a bhaint amach ó Ionad na hÉireann um an Ilghnéitheacht.

Léiriú é an Gradam ar an obair rathúil atá déanta ag NPU go dtí seo leis an gComhionannas, leis an Ilghnéitheacht agus leis an Ionchuimsiú a fhréamhú san eagraíocht. Tá fás ag teacht ar thábhacht na hoibre seo mar gheall ar an ilghnéitheacht a bhaineann leis an spéis a chuirtear sna píb uilleann, in Éirinn agus go hidirnáisiúnta, agus mar gheall ar theacht chun cinn guthanna nua in Éirinn.

Bhí an méid seo le rá ag príomhfheidhmeannach NPU, Gay McKeon: “Tá an-áthas orainn faoin dul chun cinn atá déanta ag NPU go dtí seo, dul chun cinn a bhfuil aitheantas tugtha ag bronnadh an Ghradaim seo dó. Cloch mhíle shuntasach inar dturas atá ann, agus muid ag iarraidh ardchaighdeán feabhais a bhaint amach i dtaca leis an gComhionannas, leis an Ilghnéitheacht agus leis an Ionchuimsiú.

Tá obair déanta againn leis na luachanna seo a chur chun cinn inar gcuid ghníomhachtaí agus le ceannaireacht a léiriú sa réimse seo, agus táimid tiomanta don phróiseas leanúnach feabhsaithe.

Leanfaidh NPU ar aghaidh lena chuid oibre le hIonad na hÉireann um an Ilghnéitheacht le cinntiú go dtiocfaimid chomh fada le gach grúpa sa tsochaí, in Éirinn agus thar lear, agus go leanfaimid orainn ag leagadh béime ar thábhacht mhór an Chomhionannais, na hIlghnéitheachta, agus an Ionchuimsithe.”

I mí na Samhna 2021 bhain NPU an Gradam Cré-umha d’Infheisteoirí san Ilghnéitheacht amach, agus ó shin amach tá tosaíocht ag an gComhionannas, ag an Ilghnéitheacht agus ag an Ionchuimsiú ar an gclár oibre atá againn don phróiseas leanúnach feabhsaithe. Tosaíocht straitéiseach de chuid Straitéis eagraíochta NPU, Sharing the Sound of Ireland 2022-2024, is ea baint amach an Ghradaim Airgid seo.

Is ar lorg anailís a rinneadh ar a chuid oibre, ar a pholasaithe agus ar a chuid traenála, agus ar lorg agallaimh a cuireadh ar bhaill foirne faoi chúrsaí ilghnéitheachta agus ionchuimsithe, a tugadh aitheanta do NPU leis an nGradam Airgid. Sprioc atá ag an dá eagraíocht is ea an dul chun cinn, agus beidh NPU ag ullmhú anois don chéad chéim eile ina thuras le stádas níos airde fós a bhaint amach.

Deir stiúrthóir bainistíochta Ionad na hÉireann um an Ilghnéitheacht, Caroline Tyler: ‘Comhghairdeas leis an bhfoireann ar fad ag NPU as an nGradam Airgid d’Infheisteoirí a bhaint amach. Táimid ag súil le bheith ag obair leo ar an gcéad chuid eile dá dturas, agus le ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar an tionchar atá aige ar an eagraíocht – in Éirinn agus ar fud an domhain.

Is é ‘Infheisteoirí san Ilghnéitheacht’ príomhchomhartha creidiúnaithe na hÉireann maidir le feidhmiú an Chomhionannais, na hIlghnéitheachta agus an Ionchuimsithe. Tacaíonn an eagraíocht le turas leanúnach an fheabhais trí fhráma struchtúrtha a chur ar fáil a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aige cleachtais agus cultúr a athrú. Cuireann an creidiúnú seo leis an gclár Safe to Create, tionscnamh de chuid an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus na Meán, ar ghlac NPU leis i mí na Samhna 2022.

Eolas faoi Na Píobairí Uilleann

Bunaíodh Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU) in 1968 ag an am a cheaptar go raibh níos lú ná 100 píobaire uilleann fágtha sa tír. Ach is eagraíocht atá faoi bhláth inniu í agus é mar aidhm aici Fuaim na hÉireann a roinnt trí Rochtain, trí Oideachas, trí Thaibhiú agus trí Chaomhnú.

Ón am ar oscail NPU a áitreabh i dteach Seoirseach athchóirithe i 15 Sráid Henrietta, Baile Átha Cliath in 2007 tá sé ag freastal ar an éileamh atá ag fás gan stad ar oiliúint rialta ar an uirlis. Tá sé ag foilsiú agus ag eisiúint taifeadtaí tábhachtacha ó shin i leith freisin.   Toisc go bhfuil éileamh thar na bearta ar an uirlis í fhéin, bhunaigh NPU a sainionad oiliúna PipeCraft in 2011 chun oiliúint a chur ar fáil ins an saincheird ardoilte de dhéantús píbe.

Tá NPU creidiúnaithe le hEagraíocht Oideachais, Eolaíochta agus Chultúir na Náisiún Aontaithe (UNESCO) mar eagraíocht neamhrialtasach inniúil (NGO) in san earnáil a bhaineann le hOidhreacht Chultúir Dholáimhsithe (ICH).

Chuaigh NPU i mbun stocaireachta le Rialtas na hÉireann chun go ndaingneodh sé Coinbhinsiún UNESCO maidir le hOidhreacht Chultúir Dholáimhsithe. De thoradh ar sin chuir UNESCO Píobaireacht Uilleann ar a Liosta Ionadaíoch d’Oidhreacht Chultúir Dholáimhsithe an Chine Daonna i Nollaig 2017.

In 2023 bhronn Ionad na hÉireann um Ilchineálacht a nDámhachtain Airgid um Ilchineálacht ar NPU.

Is iad príomh-mhaoinitheoirí NPU ná Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, An Chomhairle Ealaíon agus Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath.

 Na Píobairí Uilleann, 15 Sráid Henrietta, Baile Átha Cliath 1, Éire

Teileafón: +353-1-8730093

Ríomhphost: info@pipers.ie

Suíomh idirlín:  www.pipers.ie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/napiobairiuilleann

Twitter: www.twitter.com/napiobairi

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