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7 3 28 20110711 28 LETTER TO T. CROFTON CROKER FROM JAMES GANDSEY WE stop the press, as the newspaper phrase runs, to announce the receipt of the follow- ing letter. Did ever letter arrive more opportunely? Sir, – It is with enthusiastic pleasure I received the letter directed to me from London; Mr. Gorham sent it to me to Lord Headley’s, near Killarney, which, when I received, I gave it to his Lordship to open for his amusement. He was greatly surprised to find in it a piece of music of so ancient a date. He caused the boy to bring his violin and play it for him, which he much approved of. He is one of the best judges of the day; and you may depend on it, sir, I would never have attained my meridian, but for his superior dic- tation to me. When I told his lordship about you, he brought down the Fairy Legends to have it read for me. I am somwehat jealous you did not afford me some conspicuous place in that very amusing and romantic work, as you did to Tim Carroll; for to hear my Fox and hounds, with Judy Joyce the joker, And famous jig Polthough, described by Crofton Croker, would have been flattering and heartfelt honour, be- sides being the only man of my profession distin- guished in this neighbourhood. I enclose you an old tune, which was O’Donoghue’s lamentation for the loss of his priveleges, when the penal code was put in force against the Irish. I have three or four hundred of those beautiful old melodies, (never got hold of by Moore, Stephenson, or Bunting,) once played by the harp of Erin, now slumbering in the dust. Now, as you are sometimes among the musical society of London, a thought struck me, sir, that you might make off with those by way of publication, or by depositing them in the Museum, among the antiquities for future inspec- tion, as they are all from Carolan, the ancient and cel- ebrated Irish bard and musician. It is a pity they should be lost, if anything could be done to preserve them. If you encourage me, I will contrive to have them sent to you by the assistance of the said nobleman, who is a friend to science. He is decidedly the best man for this part of the south of Ireland, that was ever re- membered to come into it; as the book says of O’Sullivan – ‘Nulla manus tam liberalis, atque gen- eralis, atque universalis, quam Headlialis.’ I should like to hear from you, sir, when time allows you to make arrangements. So, so more at present, from your very humble servant, JAMES GANDSEY LORD HEADLEY’S PIPER (From : T. Crofton Croker, Killarney Legends, Fisher, Son and Jackson, London 1831) IRISH BAGPIPES THOSE who visit the Killarney Lakes ought not to omit listening to a tune on this national in- strument. To fastidious ears the pipes will sound harsh, no doubt, but when well played their tones are very pleasing. In form they are somewhat like the Scotch bagpipes, but they are much softer in tone, and more bearable. Improvements and addi- tions have been made on them from time to time, and they have now obtained the name of the Union Pipes. The chief difference between the Irish and the Scotch bagpipes is, that the air in the former is supplied to the bag by a pair of small bellows in- stead of by the mouth. The bellows are worked by one arm, and the bag is pressed by the other, forc- ing the air into the chanter, which is perforated with holes somewhat after the manner of a flute. The pipers of the lakes are not so good as they used to be. The superior charms and power of the bugle seem to have driven them into the background; but in days of old the pipes were held in high esteem, and the piper used to be a man of immense impor- tance. Gandsey was the last of the great pipers. He was long known as Lord Headly’s [sic] piper, and brought such sweet music out of his instrument as has not been heard since the old man died. Never- theless, there are still some who are worth hearing. (From : Robert Michael Ballantyne, The Lakes of Killarney, London 1865 ~ SEANCHAS ~

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