Kevin Rowsome visited the Ceol Pipes workshop in Achill on Saturday April 14th along with Tomás MacUileagóid, a highly respected Harp-maker based in Dublin. Tomás was checking progress on his practice set of uilleann pipes, including a 3-keyed chanter, which is due for delivery within a few weeks.

Kevin Rowsome is the fifth generation of pipers from the Rowsome uilleann piping dynasty. The uilleann pipes that I make are based largely on a set that were made in 1924 by Kevin’s great-grandfather, William Rowsome.

It was fitting that Kevin got to test-drive my first completed set of drones, along with a 4-keyed chanter made in 2011. A video of his wonderful playing can be seen in the Audio & Video section of this website.

For more information on Kevin’s piping, and the immense contribution of the Rowsome family to uilleann piping, check out Kevin’s website.

I spent a few very enjoyable pipe-nerd hours with Harry Bradley on Feb 24th 2012 en route to the Leo Rowsome Commemoration Day in NPU.

Harry tried a few of my chanters and I have uploaded a video of him playing one of my 4-keyed chanters to the Audio & Video page.

The tune I think is “The Hunter’s Purse”- a great version- thanks Harry! It is unknown if the Hunter had matching shoes.

Check out more of Harry’s wonderful piping at: http://errantelbows.podbean.com/

Ceol Pipes Uilleann Pipes will be exhibiting at Na Piobairi Uilleann’s headquarters, 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, as part of the Leo Rowsome Commemorative Event on February 25th 2012 between 10:00am and 5:00pm.

I will have several practice sets and chanters on display and interested parties are welcome to try them out.

Further details can be found on NPU’s website.

Myles O’Reilly has produced a beautiful video, The Music Makers, combining footage recorded in the workshops of 4 Mayo-based musical instrument makers (including Ceol Pipes) during July 2011, and footage from the Music Makers performance which took place in The Linenhall Theatre, Castlebar in November 2011. The video can be seen on the Audio and Video page of this website.

RTE cameras were in Lynott’s pub, Achill Island recently to record a slot for an new TV show called “Tracks and Trails” to be aired in November/December 2011.

Each episode of the show features a different walking/cycling trail around Ireland.

This particular episode follows veteran broadcaster Jim Sherwin as he explores the wonderful Greenway cycle track from Westport to Achill.

The show closes with the host enjoying a pint of Guinness and listening to tunes played by local musicians Diarmuid Gielty (fiddle), Sean Lynch (uilleann pipes), T.P. (flute) and John Butler (uilleann pipes).

Ceol Pipes was delighted to have been visited in September 2011 by The Goodwin Project team who have embarked on a 13 month trip around the world during which they will visit 18 countries. The Goodwins are a young family of 4 from Hawaii and are being accompanied on their adventure by a five-person film crew who are recording this epic journey of surfing and cultural exploration and discovery. Their goal is to produce a movie of their adventures.

During their stay in Achill they experienced a wonderful night of traditional Irish music in The Annexe Inn, Keel, where they recorded a session featuring local musicians Shay Kennedy, Michael Fadian, T.P., Diarmuid Gielty, Lisa Fukuda, Mick Kane and John Butler.

The film crew also visited my uilleann pipemaking workshop where they filmed me turning a chanter, and recorded me playing a slow air on the pipes.

Photographs of their visit to Achill can be found on the Goodwin’s blog.