Armagh Pipers Club - highlights of 2009

Armagh Pipers Club
14 Victoria Street
Armagh BT61 9DT
Northern Ireland

Armagh Pipers Club founded 1966

highlights of 2009 - 2010

Term 1 was busy and very exciting with plenty of musical activity throughout the four months. An important step in the Club’s progress was the appointment of Gráinne Crothers as our new Development Officer and she has been working hard to secure funding for the many projects which the Club has on hand.

One major result of Grainne’s endeavors was the awarding of a Heritage Lottery grant to develop the Dave Williams Piping Workshop under the direction of Eamonn Curran. The workshop was launched in October and Eamonn is currently making pipes in the Workshop which is located in St. Patrick’s Trian.

We have hosted four concerts in the Trad at the Trian Series with singers Jim McFarland, Gerry O’Reilly, Geraldine Bradley and Gabriel McArdle, and instrumentalists Barry Kerr, Séamie O’Dowd, Jim McGrath and Enda Scahill, all of whom held workshops following the concerts.

The William Kennedy Piping Festival brought many amazing musicians to Armagh from the USA, Brittany, Portugal, Scotland, Hungary, The Netherlands and the Basque Country as well as from all over Ireland. With concerts, sessions, lectures, workshops and schools’ performances there was something for everyone and the event continues to be a major tourist attraction for Armagh. Our pupils and teachers kept the session scene going throughout the weekend; the fiddle, accordion and pipe teachers had the amazing experience of performing alongside the great composer and pianist Mícheál Ó Súilleabhain and the Carolan Orchestra in the piece Francesca Walks; some pupils and teachers played and sang at the Pipers Service in St. Patrick’s C. Of I. Cathedral while many more availed of the opportunity to attend some of the 24 workshops and the Irish-Scottish Project.

The Winter Session of LCM exams took place in December with a 100% pass rate.

December also featured two other events - our inaugural Fancy Dress Session and a Christmas Celebration in the Palace Chapel. The Fancy Dress Session was one of the best events we ever organised - congratulations to everyone who participated - you had such imaginative ideas!

Pupils were invited to play at a number of events during the term. These included the Hallowe’een Crafts event in the County Museum where two groups of younger pupils entertained the visitors; the Gathering for Africa in Armagh City Hotel, and the Charity Fund-raising Concert in the Carrickdale Hotel. Conor Mallon and Ciaran Breen represented the Club at the 25th Anniversary Concert of the Feisean in Inverness. The Mulholland family and Ciaran Hanna with their group Cinnte reached the finals of BBC2’s Young Traditional Musician competition.

Burns Night has become an institution in the Pipers Club over the past few years and this year we had great songs, music and dancing with a packed house.

The Club is indebted to all the parents, teachers and pupils who volunteered their help during the Piping Festival, and during the bag-packing fund-raiser in Sainsbury’s. Without the help of our members and supporters the Club really couldn’t function.

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	highlights of 2009 - 2010
	Term 1 was busy and very exciting with plenty of musical activity throughout the four months. An important step in the Club’s progress was the appointment of Gráinne Crothers as our new Development Officer and she has been working hard to secure funding for the many projects which the Club has on hand. One major result of Grainne’s endeavors was the awarding of a Heritage Lottery grant to develop the Dave Williams Piping Workshop under the direction of Eamonn Curran. The workshop was launched in October and Eamonn is currently making pipes in the Workshop which is located in St. Patrick’s Trian. We have hosted four concerts in the Trad at the Trian Series with singers Jim McFarland, Gerry O’Reilly, Geraldine Bradley and Gabriel McArdle, and instrumentalists Barry Kerr, Séamie O’Dowd, Jim McGrath and Enda Scahill, all of whom held workshops following the concerts. The William Kennedy Piping Festival brought many amazing musicians to Armagh from the USA, Brittany, Portugal, Scotland, Hungary, The Netherlands and the Basque Country as well as from all over Ireland. With concerts, sessions, lectures, workshops and schools’ performances there was something for everyone and the event continues to be a major tourist attraction for Armagh. Our pupils and teachers kept the session scene going throughout the weekend; the fiddle, accordion and pipe teachers had the amazing experience of performing alongside the great composer and pianist Mícheál Ó Súilleabhain and the Carolan Orchestra in the piece Francesca Walks; some pupils and teachers played and sang at the Pipers Service in St. Patrick’s C. Of I. Cathedral while many more availed of the opportunity to attend some of the 24 workshops and the Irish-Scottish Project. The Winter Session of LCM exams took place in December with a 100% pass rate. December also featured two other events - our inaugural Fancy Dress Session and a Christmas Celebration in the Palace Chapel. The Fancy Dress Session was one of the best events we ever organised - congratulations to everyone who participated - you had such imaginative ideas! Pupils were invited to play at a number of events during the term. These included the Hallowe’een Crafts event in the County Museum where two groups of younger pupils entertained the visitors; the Gathering for Africa in Armagh City Hotel, and the Charity Fund-raising Concert in the Carrickdale Hotel. Conor Mallon and Ciaran Breen represented the Club at the 25th Anniversary Concert of the Feisean in Inverness. The Mulholland family and Ciaran Hanna with their group Cinnte reached the finals of BBC2’s Young Traditional Musician competition. Burns Night has become an institution in the Pipers Club over the past few years and this year we had great songs, music and dancing with a packed house. The Club is indebted to all the parents, teachers and pupils who volunteered their help during the Piping Festival, and during the bag-packing fund-raiser in Sainsbury’s. Without the help of our members and supporters the Club really couldn’t function.