professional pipers

susnfx · Post by **susnfx** » Fri May 07, 2004 8:28 am

I can see Troy's problem right off the bat - it's the purple shirt. That would hold anybody back!

Cillian Vallely is a full-time piper with Lunasa.

jqpublick · Post by **jqpublick** » Fri May 07, 2004 12:59 pm

There's Emer Maycock from the Afrocelts and the piper from Kila...oh and there's this guy from the Chieftans, what's his name again? Paddy something?

Mark

djm · Post by **djm** » Fri May 07, 2004 1:33 pm

JQP wrote:oh and there's this guy from the Chieftans, what's his name again? Paddy something?

Yes, but even the Chieftains maintained their day jobs for the first few albums. And they were already coming off the success of being O'Riada's group, Ceoltóirí Chualann.

I know Debbie Quigley in Toronto is trying to make a go of it as a pro piper, playing dances, giving tuition privately and at tíonóls. Still, it is very hard going for her.

I would ask the same questions about these other groups mentioned. Are they making a go of piping full time? We still haven't counted up to twenty, yet.

djm

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Fri May 07, 2004 1:55 pm

susnfx wrote:Cillian Vallely is a full-time piper with Lunasa.

Actually, Cillian does quite a few other piping gigs outside of Lúnasa as well - though that band may be a large source of his income. Check out some of his bios on the web to learn more.

mconners · Post by **mconners** » Fri May 07, 2004 2:05 pm

Tommy Keane is a music teacher of some sort in Ireland, I believe. When I took a class from him at Augusta in 2001 he mentioned teaching tinwhistle.

Jerry O'Sullivan is a teacher as well.

Teaching is a profession that lends itself well to someone like Jerry or Tommy. The summer breaks provide an extended period of time to tour, summer schools and the like.

rorybbellows · Post by **rorybbellows** » Fri May 07, 2004 3:07 pm

Would Kevin Rowsome be a full time piper ?

No E · Post by **No E** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:08 pm

rorybbellows wrote:Would Kevin Rowsome be a full time piper ?

Nope. Kevin definately has a day job.

No E

tompipes · Post by **tompipes** » Fri May 07, 2004 4:26 pm

Heres a few that I can think of right away, but I'm sure theres dozens more.
Me, for a start

Ivan Goff
Cillian Vallelly
Eamonn Dillon
Eoin Dillon
Donnacha Dwyer
Donnacha Gough
Paddy Maloney
Paddy Keenan
Liam O'Flynn
Ronan Browne
Brian O'Briain
Davy Spillane
Declan Masterson
Troy Donlockey
Joe McKenna
Tommy Keane (Waterford/Galway)
Tommy Keane (Dublin)
Pat Broaders
Michael O'Connell
Flathri Neff
Jimmy Morrison
Diarmuid Moynihan
Eric Rigler
Martin Nolan
Tianan O'Dincin
John McSherry
Michael McGoldrick
Jerry O'Sullivan
Harry Bradley
Emer Mayock
Finbarr Furey
Gavin Whelan
Brendan Ring

Theres more I know. There could be some I listed that have day job that I wasn't aware of so feel free to correct me.

Tommy

marcpipes · Post by **marcpipes** » Fri May 07, 2004 5:30 pm

I guess I'm a half time piper as the cash is a split between piping and making jewelry. And the two worlds meld ever closer.
Marc

L42B · Post by **L42B** » Fri May 07, 2004 6:16 pm

Paddy Keenan one of the less famous ones, he can make the pipes sing that's for sure. I can't believe he turned down a meating to play with "The Beatles".

And theirs Paddy Maloney from the Chieftains, they've got some really great albums. You might want to check out their site http://www.irish.com.

L42B

djm · Post by **djm** » Fri May 07, 2004 6:26 pm

That's an impressive list, but it is a list of people who "also" play pipes, not necessarily people who make a living by just playing pipes. Declan Masterson, for instance, makes his money doing scores for tv shows and commercials. I can't remember the last time he did pure piping, or much piping at all. Harry Bradley doesn't make his living playing pipes. I think your list has kind of wandered. These people may be fine pipers, but the original question was "who is making a living solely from piping".

djm

tompipes · Post by **tompipes** » Fri May 07, 2004 11:44 pm

DJM,
You are right there, there are a few names that may not belong there. Declan does do that commercial stuff and does play a load of other instruments. But his first instrument is the pipes. Likewise Donnacha Gough plays mostly bodhran with Danu but pipes are his main thing. Yes, Harry is a great flute player and does it for a living (between changing nappies) but he is a great piper too.
There are a few more on that list that play other instruments or sing or make pipes part time, but there are 20ish there that soley play pipes for a living. Your guesstimate was on the ball!! Initialy I thought that there may be more but I think you may win the prize!!

Heres a few more that I thought of,
Anton Davila, who also plays Galician pipes.
Joe McHugh
Christy O'Leary, who sings too.
Gary Roche
Leonard Barry

Does Elliot Grasso play full-time. I heard he plays classical/baroque music too.

Again corrections are welcome and I'm sure needed.

Tommy

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat May 08, 2004 5:21 am

Tommy a chara,

I make money with the flute.

I seem to just spend it all on the pipes.

Fair play to you djm, there's definately something wrong with that equation.

Regards,

Harry.

j dasinger · Post by **j dasinger** » Sat May 08, 2004 4:27 pm

I thought Christy O'Leary was retired or something. Although he was certainly a professional when he was with Boys of the Lough.

Eliot Grasso is a full-time music student. It certainly seems as though he will be a professional musician of some sort in the future. On pipes or something else remains an open question.
JD

Patrick D'Arcy · Post by **Patrick D'Arcy** » Mon May 10, 2004 11:53 am

Harry wrote:I make money with the flute.

I seem to just spend it all on the pipes.

How is that C# set working out for you Harry? Do you have much time to play these days?

Slán,

Patrick.