Na Píobairí Uilleann

Chairman, NPU

An Píobaire

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6 5 24 20101217 24 appropriate setting for the inaugural perform- ance of this piece commissioned by Armagh Pipers Club and supported by a traditional Arts Award from AN CHOMHAIRLE EALAION/ IRISH ARTS COUNCIL. The words come directly from the Book of Leinster and the piece follows the action of the Táin through eight descriptive pieces sung by Lorcán Mac Mathúna. The story is one of the great epics of the Scottish and Irish Gaelic oral tradition handed down through the cen- turies and finally written down by scribes in the first millennium. The story also survived orally throughout Ireland and Scotland right to the present day. This was a truly magical performance rising to the occasion and captivating the audience. The entire piece is controlled by Mac Mathúna’s spell-binding singing which ranged from low chanting to full-throated and powerful vocals that echoed through the Cathedral. The musical accompaniment of uilleann pipes, fiddle, saxophone and piano accordion also included pre-recorded elec- tronic music. This was one of the never-to-be forgotten moments of the entire festival. Three more free sessions followed this before the eagerly awaited appearance of the ST LAURENCE O’TOOLE PIPE BAND at the Marketplace Theatre. Predictably this sell out concert got a great boost in August when the Kildare-based band took the Grade One World Championships title at the ‘Worlds’ in Glasgow to climax a great centenary year for the legendary band. They took to the stage, filling it from end to end with an amazing line-up of pipes and drums, going on to capti- vate the audience with a widely varied selec- tion from their repertoire that included their winning MSR from Glasgow. The second half opened with the dynamic RONCOS DO DIABO who although much fewer in number filled the stage with their own brand of Portuguese piping hugely appreciat- ed by the audience. Then we had another blast from the band under the leadership of Pipe Saint Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band Paul Eliasberg

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