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Píobaire, An, Volume 4, Issue 44, Page 28

Píobaire, An, Volume 4, Issue 44, Page 28
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periodical Publisher
Na Píobairí Uilleann
periodical Editor
Chairman, NPU
periodical Title
Píobaire, An
volume Number
4
issue Content
28~ Seanchas ~TWO PIPERS; but a reversed life storyTo anyone familiar with piping history, especially in Scotland, the name and life of AngusMacKay needs little introduction, from his early rise to fame, his appointment as piperto Queen Victoria and his final days ending in an asylum with mental health problems.No form of incarceration is really the appropriate subject for humour, but perhaps a wry smilecan be permitted for what seems to have been an almost exact reversal of MacKay's life storyby an Irish piper. The story is almost self explanatory as a result of two contemporary entries in The Scotsman,an Edinburgh daily paper. The first appeared on Saturday 23rd November 1850 and was takenfrom the Limerick Chronicle. Under the heading IRELAND it read;-One of the first musical instrument makers in Ireland is Thomas M'Mahon, a lunatic inmate of the Armagh asylum.The second reference comes some three years later and takes the form of an advertisementplaced in the Edinburgh paper on Saturday 24th September 1853, which read as follows;-Mr THOs. MAHON, Professor of the Irish Union Bagpipes, and Irish Piper to Her Most GraciousMajesty the Queen, having by command, played before Her Majesty and the Royal Family atBalmoral Castle on Friday Evening, September 16, and having elicited Her Majesty’s highest com-mendations and that of Her Royal Consort, purposes to appear before an Edinburgh audience onFRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 30,IN THECALTON CONVENING ROOMS,WATERLOO PLACE, and to Play a Series ofNATIONAL AIRS on the IRISH UNION PIPESA singularly ingenious, curious, and most melodious Instrument – peculiarly effective in soft, plain-tive melody, as well as in the livelier strains of exciting music.____________The Public will Have also an opportunity of seeingA SET OF UNION PIPES The old Companion of an Irish ChieftainAnd removed from the Dublin Exhibition by special favour. It is of exquisite workmanship, and inwonderfully fine preservation – a splendid specimen of this extraordinary and now rare MusicalInstrument, There will also be several COMIC SONGS at intervals by accomplished Vocalists.ADMISSION:-Reserved Seats, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2s. 6dSecond Do, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2s. 0dBack Do, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1s. 0dPerformance to commence precisely at Eight o’clock(Submitted by Keith Sanger)
issue Number
44
page Number
28
periodical Author
[Periodical]
issue Publication Date
2008-05-21T11:44:38.503
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Píobaire, An, Volume 4, Issue 44

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