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Píobaire, An, Volume 5, Issue 2, Page 14

Píobaire, An, Volume 5, Issue 2, Page 14
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periodical Publisher
Na Píobairí Uilleann
periodical Editor
Chairman, NPU
periodical Title
Píobaire, An
volume Number
5
issue Content
14Although Tommy and my father kneweach other very well all their lives, Idid not meet him properly until Ibecame interested in the pipes in the 1970s. Iwas home from London for Christmas andthinking of getting pipes so, at the invitationof Tommy Keane, I went to a traditionalmusic recital for the residents of a local oldpeople’s home. Tommy was extremely friend-ly and seemed delighted at the prospect ofsomeone he knew from Waterford becominginvolved in the long tradition of piping there.From that day on he did all he could to helpme out – including becoming involved inwhat might have been the first ever “distancelearning” project for uilleann pipes! I was incollege in England with absolutely no accessto lessons so I would make a cassette of myattempts to play the chanter and send it toTommy. He would comment kindly on myefforts and then record suggestions and tuneson the tape and send it back to me. No doubtthis was time consuming for a man runninghis own business but he seemed genuinelythrilled to be helping someone learn about theinstrument he loved so much.What always struck me about Tommy was theway in which pipes and piping seemed to bepart of his being. It was not something he didas a pastime or which he dipped into fromtime to time. It certainly had nothing to dowith fame or glory because he never soughtthe limelight. It was an intrinsic component ofhis life and his self-identity. Watching himplay was like watching someone breathing –no effort, no stress – a completely naturalprocess.Memories of Tommy KearneyNew Year’s Day 1979 : L-R – Billy Browne, Tommy Kearney, Jim McGuire, Kevin O’Dwyer and the chanter of Tommy Keane
issue Number
2
page Number
14
periodical Author
[Periodical]
issue Publication Date
2009-04-17T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Píobaire, An, Volume 5, Issue 2

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