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Píobaire, An, Volume 1, Issue 5, Page 2

Píobaire, An, Volume 1, Issue 5, Page 2
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periodical Publisher
Na Píobairí Uilleann
periodical Editor
Chairman, NPU
periodical Title
Píobaire, An
volume Number
1
issue Content
(Lvi)THE FIRST PIPERS CLUB IN DUBLINIn the account of the Dublin Pipers Club in our last number (March 1970) it was mentionedthat a prominent member of the Club had prepared a bagpipe tutor for publication. The member wasSeamas 0 Casaide, who had been Secretary of the club; the work itself was not original but anediting of OFarrells tutor (subsequently reprinted by Grattan Flood as an appendix to his Story ofthe Bagpipe (1911) ). Notes on OFarrell had been prepared and it was intended also to include inthe tutor hints on piping by Pat Ward and those by Touhey which ONeill had printed in his Irish FolkMusic, a fascinating study. It is not too harsh to say that nothing much was lost because this workfailed to appear. 0 Farrells tutor is a simple affair and even eked out by hints from Pat Ward andPatsy Tuohey, it would have fallen far short of a practical tutor based on the playing of Martin Reillyand the other surviving pipers of the time, a work which should have been well within the ability ofthe club to produce.As already mentioned, no copies of An Piobaire, the magazine produced by the clubappear to have survived but some information about it has been unearthed. It was handwrittenand ran to only six numbers. Pride of place was given in the first number to a poem beginningHeres a health to the piper, God Bless him, written by Patrick Archer (Mac Fine Gall),authorof The Humours of Shanawalla and a member of the club. 0 Casaide, too, was responsible forproducing this magazine, as is seen from an entry in the second volume of the Minutes: TiubhraidSeamus Ua Casaide aire dho seo (An Piobaire) go ceann tamaill eile ar chuma ar bith. Se a mheasseisean nach bhfuil aon mhaith leis agus go mba fhearr cosg a chur leis (22, III, 04).The second Minute book covers the years 1904-14, when the club finally expired. Theminutes down to April 1905 are recorded in Irish in Eamonn Ceannts handwriting. He resignedon his marriage, from secretaryship of the club in April, 1905. At this time the dub had rooms inthe Foresters HaIl, 41 Parnell Square (then Rutland Square). The annual meeting held on 12February, 1904 was well attended. Ceannt read the Secretarys report; grebt satisfaction wasexpressed at the Treasurers Report and Edward Martyn was unanimously elected President.Tar eis an obair sea bheith decinta sheinn an Dochtuir de hEenbri go binn ar anbheidhlin agust thus se oraid bhreagh fada i dtaoibh na bpiopai agus i dtaoibh ceoil na hEireann.The rule whereby members required permission to perform at concerts was still in force,Ceonnt and others being granted leave to play at Maynooth College and elsewhere. The ancientdistrust of dancing is shown in the decision : An Carghais. Ni bheidh aon damhsa sa gCumanngo ceann an Charghais (no dancing during Lent) (7.111. 04).The new president, Edward Martyn, who was at the time devoting his energy and moneyto the improvement of music in the church, pressed to have traditional singing taught in theclub (22.111) There were lengthy discussions on tl e subject and naturally the question of chang-ing the name of the society if singing (and fiddle playing) were to be taught there did not escapethe attention of the disputatious nonperformers (18. VI. 04). The club advertised for teachers,offering good fees for those engaged. A guinea was to be paid to each teacher or more toPartholan Breathnach if he refused a guinea (per week). The classes were hold on Mondays,Wednesdays and Thursdays between 7 - 9.30p.m. Only members might attend; these had topay 1/6 per month but they were free to come every night if they wished. The songs taughtwere to be written into a book so the students could read them and a roll was to be kept.(26.X 04). Subsequently the fee for the singing class was waived and the classes wereopene4 to youths, although not members (7.1. 05). It is interesting to note that Martynsucceeded in preventing Maighread Ni Annagain, coauthor of Londubh an Chaitn, frombeing appointed a singing teacher because she was not a true seannos singer (16.lX.04).Breathnach, it seems, was appointed as teacher but it is not evident from the minuteswhether he ever taught at the club; it was decided it was not worth bringing him to townuntil more pupils were enrolled (16. ll.05). The policy of the club was that each class shouldbe self supporting, the fees of the pupils at least meeting the remuneration of the teacher,butMarlyn seems to have subsidised the singing classes. When there was no more money left forthem he was written to for further help and he responded with a grant of 30. (9.Vl.05).2 over....
issue Number
5
page Number
2
periodical Author
[Periodical]
issue Publication Date
1971-03-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Píobaire, An, Volume 1, Issue 5

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