Na Píobairí Uilleann confirms Barra McGrory Q.C. to join Board
Press release on behalf of Na Píobairí Uilleann, 3rd December 2020 *Irish below*
Na Píobairí Uilleann is pleased to announce that Barra McGrory, Q.C. has accepted nomination to the Board of the organisation.
Barra is a native of Belfast and qualified with a BA degree in Ancient History and Celtic Studies from Queens University Belfast. In 1987 he qualified as a Solicitor following in his father, Paddy’s, footsteps. Barra undertook the position of Chairman of the Solicitor’s Criminal Bar Association in 1990 and was made a Queen’s Council (Q.C.) in 2007. In 2009 he transferred from the solicitor’s profession to the Bar of Northern Ireland.
The development over recent years of the Charities Governance Code for organisations with charitable status has rightfully seen a number of changes aimed at establishing best practice standards for the governance of such bodies. Recognising and agreeing with these requirements Na Píobairí Uilleann, the body working to promote all aspects of uilleann piping wherever it is played or appreciated, recently altered its Constitution to provide for membership at Board level of persons who bring unique sets of skills to the organisation. The active participation at Board level of such persons will ensure the existence of governance structures and standards of Na Píobairí Uilleann which are best fit for purpose.
Mr. McGrory successfully navigated one of the most difficult legal positions on the island of Ireland when undertaking the position of Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in 2011. As the first Catholic appointed to the position, legal sensitivities could not have been more challenging in the post-Peace Process period. Following six years in the latter role Mr. McGrory returned to private practice where he is one of the few senior counsel practicing regularly in both Irish jurisdictions and in Britain as a member of the Bar of England & Wales.
In addition to his considerable legal skills, Barra McGrory has previously served on arts bodies in Northern Ireland and has a strong commitment to fostering community and traditional arts. He comes from a family of noted traditional musicians and is himself a skilled musician.
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Na Píobairí Uilleann, Dr. Caoimhín Mac Aoidh, Chairman, noted:
“The Board of Na Píobairí Uilleann is most fortunate to avail of the considerable expertise of such a skilled and dedicated person as Barra McGrory. We greatly look forward to his contributions and working with him on many exciting projects. Na Píobairí Uilleann has achieved astonishing results in its work promoting, developing and passing on the unique tradition of uilleann piping in its more than fifty years of existence. While extraordinary and challenging milestones have been realised and surpassed, it is critical that the Board of Na Píobairí Uilleann continues into the future ensuring the highest standards of governance making certain those seeking to play the music, those who enjoy its performance and the wider public who are disposed to this uniquely Irish instrument continue to appreciate exceptional service.”
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Deimhníonn Na Píobairí Uilleann go mbeidh Barra McGrory Q.C. ina chomhalta den Bhord
Tá áthas ar Na Píobairí Uilleann a fhógairt gur ghlac Barra McGrory le hainmniúchán mar chomhalta de Bhord na heagraíochta.
Is as Béal Feirste ó dhúchas Barra agus bhain sé bunchéim amach sa Stair Ársa agus sa Léann Ceilteach in Ollscoil na Banríona, Béal Feirste. Cháiligh sé mar aturnae sa bhliain 1987 agus lorg a athar, Paddy, á leanúint aige. Sa bhliain 2007 ghlac Barra le Cathaoirleacht Chomhlachas Barra Coiriúil na nAturnaetha agus rinneadh Abhcóide de chuid na Banríona (Q.C.) de sa bhliain 2007. In 2009 d’aistrigh sé chuig Barra Thuaisceart Éireann.
Mar chuid den fhorbairt a rinneadh ar an gCód Rialachais do Charthanais le blianta beaga anuas, tá athruithe áirithe tagtha chun cinn, faoi mar is cóir, le caighdeáin dea-chleachtas a leagan amach do rialachas eagraíochtaí dá leithéid. Aithníonn agus aontaíonn Na Píobairí Uilleann – eagraíocht a fhéachann le gach gné den phíobaireacht a chur chun cinn cibé áit ina seinntear í nó ina ndéantar ceiliúradh uirthi – leis na hathruithe sin. Is mar gheall air sin a athraíodh bunreacht Na bPíobairí Uilleann le deireanaí le ballraíocht ag leibhéal an Bhoird a cheadú dóibh siúd a bhfuil scileanna uathúla le tairiscint acu. Cinnteoidh a leithéid de bhallraíocht ghníomhach ag leibhéil an Bhoird go mbeidh na struchtúir Rialachais agus na caighdeáin is oiriúnaí don fheidhm ag Na Píobairí Uilleann
D’éirigh le McGrory post atá ar na poist dhlíthiúla is dúshlánaí ar oileán na hÉireann a stiúradh nuair a ghlac sé le ról Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí Thuaisceart Éireann in 2011. Ba é an chéad Chaitliceach a raibh an post sin aige, agus bhí dúshlán ar leith ag baint le cúrsaí dlí sa tréimhse sin i ndiaidh phróiseas na síochána. Tar éis dó sé bliana a chaitheamh ag plé leis an ról sin, d’fhill McGrory ar an gcleachtas príobháideach. Tá sé ar an mbeagán abhcóide sinsearach a bhíonn ag obair i ndlínsí na hÉireann agus na Breataine, agus é ina bhall de Bharra Shasana agus na Breataine Bige.
Sa mhullach ar a chuid scileanna dlíthiúla iomadúla, tá tréimhsí caite ag Barra McGrory ar choistí ealaíon i dTuaisceart Éireann agus tá sé tiomanta do chur chun cinn ealaíon traidisiúnta agus pobail. Tógadh i dteaghlach mór ceoil é agus is ceoltóir bisiúil é féin.
Ag labhairt dó thar cheann Bhord Na bPíobairí Uilleann, dúirt an Cathaoireach, an Dr. Caoimhín Mac Aoidh:
Tá an t-ádh le Bord Na bPíobairí Uilleann go mbeidh fáil aige ar shaineolas dhuine a bhfuil díograis agus scil Barra McGrory aige. Táimid ag súil go mór lena chuid rannpháirtíochta agus le bheith ag obair leis ar go leor tionscnamh spéisiúil amach anseo. Tá torthaí iontacha bainte amach ag Na Píobairí Uilleann ó thaobh thraidisiún uathúil na píobaireachta a chur chun cinn, a fhorbairt agus a chur ar aghaidh ó bunaíodh an eagraíocht breis agus caoga bliain ó shin. Cé gur baineadh amach agus gur sáraíodh spriocanna móra, dúshlánacha ó shin, tá sé ríthábhachtach go leanfadh Na Píobairí Uilleann le caighdeáin rialachais arda ionas go gcinnteofaí go mairfeadh an tseirbhís ar leith a thugtar dóibh siúd ar mhaith leo an uirlis a chasadh, dóibh siúd a bhaineann sult aisti, agus dóibh siúd atá báúil leis an uirlis shainiúil seo i gcoitinne.
