Heres an article that appeared in an Irish paper recently. NPU seem to be taking the possibility that in the near future we could run out of pipemakers very seriously.
Do you think its a legitimate concern? I cant see it myself as there have never been so many pipemakers and there seems to be new ones appearing all the time.
RORY
“There are actually some very good pipemakers all over the world…but very few in Ireland, perhaps 2 or 3…”
I think the concern of this article is the number of pipe makers in Ireland as compared with the rest of the world and the desire to increase the number of Ireland-based makers. Nevertheless, “2 or 3” seems a bit small…four perhaps 
Cheers,
DavidG
If the number really is either two or three, enyone as close to the action as the NPU or Sean og Potts should know which it is, exactly.
NPU where supposed to be running a full time pipe makers course 3 years ago. I signed up to it and was on the books for when it was supposed to start but received an e-mail from npu saying it had been delayed.
I have heard nothing since.
Of course a training course is essential and nearly all pipemakers take “practicants” for some weeks to “smell in”. However, to become a (fully established) pipemaker is something very different: It requires a full lifelong commitment, the abilty to play AND to work exellently, the “preparedness” to live extremely poor and drowning in depts for some years and suddenly get “discovered” (though never unexpectedly like “people´s shooting stars” but always deservedly after constant work and research), drown in work and getting along WITHOUT ever becoming rich like lawyers, doctors or bosses can do. “Richness” of course is a matter of personal definition, but for pipemakers it is very different from the “mainstream conception”.
Well looking at NPU’s own page on pipemakers there certainly seems to be more than three in Ireland. I make it 19 pipemakers!!!. I heard or read somewhere that both Davy Spillane & Eugen Lambe have started taking orders again. Don’t know when the NPU page was updated last, but I believe these pipemakers are currently active although some may have closed their books as regards new orders, and some may only make practice and halfsets:
Cillian O’Briain
Bill Haneman
Mark Donohoe
Michael Dunne
Michael Dooley
Lorcan Dunne
Davy Spillane
Donnacha Dwyer
Donncha Keegan
Martin Crossin
Robbie Hughes
Eugene Lambe
Martin Preshaw
Dessie Seery
Michael Vignoles
Kevin Thompson
Arie De Keyser
Joe McKenna
Nick Adams
There are several on that list that haven’t made pipes in decades.
Patrick.
“There are several on that list that haven’t made pipes in decades.” Patrick."
Who would that be then, Arie De Keyser, Joe McKenna, Donnacha Dwyer, Donncha Keegan, Martin Crossin? Still leaves 14 possible purveyors of the trade in Ireland.
I know as fact that Arie De Keyzer has produced pipes within the past 10 years or so. Don’t know about recently, though, or full sets.
John Mitchell of Cork still makes pipes.
I guess nobody here reads the NPU site, or has received their new An Piobaire?
Important news on this very topic has recently been posted on main page of the NPU site (as the first headline news article), and was sent to everyone who registered interest in the past. Perhaps your contact information is out of date. It was also posted to the “other” forum’s pipemaking discussion group, and appears in the most recent An Piobaire. The topic is also open on NPU’s “Snug” forum - which is the preferred place to discuss details, as folks associated with the program will be monitoring it.
Bill
p.s. - Tom/steampacket, if you want to include only active makers who are making uilleann pipes fulltime, and currently taking orders, I believe the list above gets much shorter. However for obvious reasons I would prefer not to discuss specific makers in this context.
As far as I know these 20 pipemakers are active in Ireland. This is including those that have closed their order books (even they must surely be considered active as long as they are fullfilling customers orders?). Not all make pipes full-time, but they are still pipemakers and craftsmen prepared to take orders.
Cillian O’Briain
Bill Haneman
Donncha Keegan
Martin Kerrigan, chanters, halfsets
Finbar McLaughlin
Martin Donohoe
Martin Preshaw
Michael Dooley
Davy Spillane
John Mitchell
Donnacha Dwyer
Michael Vignoles
Martin Crossin, chanters
Nick Adams
Arie De Keyzer
Robbie Hughes
Eugene Lambe
Michael Dunne
Kevin Thompson
Desi Seery (according to website)
Even if loads of people do the course then what? Unless they can get a position with an established pipemaker they would have to set up their own workshop and I think that the cost of doing that could be a major stumbling block for most.
Is there a workshop at Henrietta street that beginners could use?
RORY
We - the Uilleann community - seem hell bent, that any progress for each of us, requires re-invention of the wheel. That has been true for playing, in the past, reed making until recently, and certainly pipemaking up to now. That has been true unless you have been in the swim, a son (daughter) of the cloth, ‘in the know’ having lived and breathed The Music since birth.
The NPU has been trying to de-mystify the art, in all branches, spending it’s grants and memebership subscriptions to that end, even to supporting clubs world wide to that end.
Try to get a GOOD set of pipes made; years are involved. NPU knows and wants to change the time it takes for those keen to play to have a good set of pipes in their possesion.
Don’t knock the attempts to have the manufacturing side of our musical interest secured, for what is generally an ageing population of pipemakers.
Support it. Support ther NPU
Pwrt
I don’t think anyone is knocking NPU’s attempts to increase the number of pipemakers Pipewort. NPU’s initiative is a great opportunity for pipers interested in getting into pipemaking.
The Armargh Pipers Club opened their pipemaking workshop in November 2009 based around equipment donated from the workshop of the late Dave Williams R.I.P. and they also have had courses in pipe maintence and reedmaking http://www.armaghpipers.org/
This is very good news for pipers and pipemaking. Even if there are prehaps 20 active pipemakers in Ireland today? it’s good that NPU and the Armargh Pipers Club can support and encourage pipers interested in becoming pipemakers
The plan is to have workshop facilities that can be used by registered students, as well as for demonstrations and for hands-on direct training (one-on-one and otherwise).
There are grants available, including “Leader+” funds, to help new pipemakers set up workshops, and it’s my understanding that students may be eligible for up to 100% tuition support via EU “LEADER+” funds. Successful completion of the NPU training program could certainly help support an application for capital grants and other assistance.
As well as providing a comprehensive pipemaking training program, the project aims to cater to pipemakers who are already making pipes but who are interested in honing and extending their skills.
Is there any word on who is supposed to teach all of these classes?
The topic in the NPU Pipemaking Forum should answer your questions - it’s the best place to post them, too.
best regards
Bill
I wish I could go!!
Here is an interview with Gay McKeon on Clare FM.
http://www.clare.fm/music/ClareFM%20trad%20archive
Click on the West Wind for July 9th. The segment with Gay starts at about 7 minutes into the program with him playing, followed by discussion. The pipemaking discussion begins at about 19 minutes.