Kirk Lynch RIP

A forum about Uilleann (Irish) pipes and the surly people who play them.
Post Reply
User avatar
anima
Posts: 777
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2001 6:00 pm
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Midwest
Contact:

Kirk Lynch RIP

Post by anima »

It is with the deepest of sorrow and regret that I must relay to the uilleann piping community the passing of my friend Kirk Lynch.

Kirk Lynch was a musician for most of his life. He first took up the guitar at the age of 12, later added bass and a variety of other stringed instruments, and then played professionally in a variety of bands and styles. This eventually led to his enrollment at Boston's famed Berklee College of Music in the late ‘70's, from which he graduated in 1982 in jazz guitar. It was during his time in Boston that Kirk first heard and was attracted to Irish traditional music and in particular, the uilleann pipes. Following graduation he moved to the Kansas City area. He took up the study of the pipes in earnest and became involved in the then developing Kansas City Irish music scene. This soon led to his membership in the pioneering American Irish music group Scartaglen, and toured for the next ten years until the band broke up in 1994.

Beginning in 1985 and based on a desire for an instrument of more refined tonal character, he first ventured into pipemaking. Using experience gained while employed at a machine shop during his school days, Kirk first began building pipes on a part-time basis. After the breakup of Scartaglen he decided to pursue pipemaking as a full-time profession. Kirk soon became one of the top pipemakers and a key part of the revival and renaissance of uillean piping in the United States. His pipes were sought out for their craftmanship, their clarity of tone and subtlety of timbre. Kirk’s pipes have been played by some of the greatest pipers of our times across the stages and concert halls of the world.

And yet... he was the humblest of men. Kirk lived a quiet life in the historic river town of Weston Missouri, in a house built in the first half of the 19th century which he swore was haunted. He loved an off-color joke, a nice tawny port, and his partner Cindy. His huge laugh filled the room. I would like to say Kirk was a good friend, but in reality, he was the best of friends, he was salt of the earth, a good man, a gentleman and a gentle man. He was a musician, piper, pipemaker.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

A Go Fund Me page has been set up if you would like to donate a few pence to help defray the cost of his estate arrangements. https://gofund.me/766b87a6

Image
Image
User avatar
Johnered66
Posts: 314
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:02 am
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 12
Location: NJ

Re: Kirk Lynch RIP

Post by Johnered66 »

Rest in Peace and peace to his friends and family!
Neither weddin' nor wake would be worth a shake
If Denny was first not invited.
For at squeezin' the bag, or emptyin' the keg,
He astonished as well as delighted!
User avatar
PJ
Posts: 5900
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2005 12:23 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: ......................................................................................................
Location: Baychimo

Re: Kirk Lynch RIP

Post by PJ »

Sad news. :cry:
PJ
User avatar
daveboling
Posts: 5211
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2002 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Location: Huntsville, AL

Re: Kirk Lynch RIP

Post by daveboling »

I only spoke to Kirk on two occasions, but I played a half set he made for close to twenty years. Both conversations were memorable, and I will miss him. The pipes I had from him were always reliable, played better than I could, with a great sound.
Scíth faoi shíocháin.

dave boling
I teleported home one night
With Ron and Sid and Meg.
Ron stole Meggie's heart away
And I got Sidney's leg.
-- Douglas Adams

'Bundinn er bátlaus maðu'.
User avatar
eskin
Posts: 2316
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2001 6:00 pm
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Kickin' it Braveheart style...
Contact:

Re: Kirk Lynch RIP

Post by eskin »

I've been playing one of his 3/4 sets I purchased new in 2000. It's been absolutely bulletproof and it's the only set I own or play.

I only spoke to Kirk a couple of times on the phone in the early 2000s.

R.I.P. and thank you Kirk.
kgilstrap1
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2022 8:42 am
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: I'm a highland piper who got into uilleann piping about 10 years ago. I kind of fell away and now getting back into it.

Re: Kirk Lynch RIP

Post by kgilstrap1 »

I casually knew Kirk for 30 years before I ever got into Uilleann piping. I bought a second hand set of his pipes and took them to Kirk to have him give them a once-over. At that time, I was particularly interested in learning to make Uilleann pipes, having been a wood turner and Scottish Smallpipe maker for some years. After hanging out at his house/shop, I punted on the notion of making them myself. It takes a special kind of person to produce the quality that Kirk was a master. He also had the annoying ability of making a crummy set of cheap pipes sound damn good. He was a good guy and interesting to hang out with. I had hoped to see him again. It never occurred to me that the last time I talked with him, would be the last time we would ever visit. Weston Missouri will never be the same without Kirk. My deepest sympathy to his friends and family.
User avatar
anima
Posts: 777
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2001 6:00 pm
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Midwest
Contact:

Re: Kirk Lynch RIP

Post by anima »

on behalf of Kirk's prnter Cindy, thank you for your kind words.

Jeff
User avatar
anima
Posts: 777
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2001 6:00 pm
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Midwest
Contact:

Re: Kirk Lynch RIP

Post by anima »

Here's Kirk's composition, St. Stephen's Street, a slow air from the 1992 Scartaglen CD "Last Night's fun" ...man he was such an incredible piper, a finer air is hard to come by..... best listened to with the lights low and a glass of whiskey to toast his memory... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d42PE1sy-k

Jeff
User avatar
PJ
Posts: 5900
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2005 12:23 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: ......................................................................................................
Location: Baychimo

Re: Kirk Lynch RIP

Post by PJ »

Lovely piping.
PJ
Post Reply