Eric Rigler played the bagpipes at Ronald Reagan interment

Jim McGuire · Post by **Jim McGuire** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 5:11 am

The call went to Eric for Amazing Grace and he delivered. Quite moving!

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 5:21 am

Jim, how did you find out... was/is there any news story on this ?

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 11:54 am

If I got the call,I would be more than happy to provide a similar service for Maggie Thatcher....

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:21 pm

I am sure it was an honor.

askmearse · Post by **askmearse** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 1:29 pm

kevin REMEMBER Bobby Sands

kkrell · Post by **kkrell** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 2:38 pm

Tony wrote:Jim, how did you find out... was/is there any news story on this ?

It was announced live on a local Los Angeles radio station (KFI 640 AM)., with Eric's name mentioned, and of course the playing as the coffin was carried to its resting place.

Kevin Krell

Mypipes · Post by **Mypipes** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 3:32 pm

Was it Uilleann or Highland???

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 3:54 pm

askmearse wrote:kevin REMEMBER Bobby Sands

I was thinking of playing a variation on a traditional tune,that I've entitled 'I buried my ex P.M.,and danced on top of her'.
Course she'd have to be buried,rather than cremated.I Remember her famous quote;"The Ladies not for BURNING." Hmm,maybe I misheard her!

Jim McGuire · Post by **Jim McGuire** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 3:58 pm

He played highland pipes and dressed in full gear. He led the moving of the coffin from one side of the plaza to the other, final resting space. He played Amazing Grace three times.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 4:01 pm

kevin m. wrote:
I was thinking of playing a variation on a traditional tune,that I've entitled 'I buried my ex P.M.,and danced on top of her'.
Course she'd have to be buried,rather than cremated.I Remember her famous quote;"The Ladies not for BURNING." Hmm,maybe I misheard her!

During the mid 80s I was at a concert of a band, the name of which escapes me. Anyway John Skelton was their fluteplayer [this was just before he was in the Houseband]. He introduced a tune, talking about the risks of re-doing a roof. The tune was (the) Thatcher's downfall. 'And may it happen soon' he added, to roaring applause.

kevin m. · Post by **kevin m.** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 4:04 pm

Nice one Peter!

TnWhistler · Post by **TnWhistler** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 6:59 pm

It was carried by all the major networks, his name was on the screen as he played (flawlessly) on the one I watched. CBS I think.
Timmy

marcpipes · Post by **marcpipes** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 7:00 pm

Eric's pipes ran like bells. The tone was as nice as I've heard on T.V. in a while. Good fingers. All during the week, I kept wondering where the piper was. Looks like they saved the best for last.
Marc
Kevin M., if you got the call for Thatcher, could you play without giggling?

glands · Post by **glands** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 10:22 pm

Had the occasion to come back to C&F to answer a private message and snooped around to see how youse guys are a wasting time.

My contribution to this thread is that an appropriate fun celebratory tune for the ceremony would have been "Reagans Jig." It goes well with Rambling Pitchfork and like tunes. Sheet music can be found in one of the Ceol Rince Na Erinn (ok..ok...I may not have spelled it correctly) books.....book # 1 I believe. I'm the only one I've ever heard play it.

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 2:13 am

kevin m. wrote:Nice one Peter!

Remember this one Kev?

I am surprised by the outpouring of praise for the man. My recollection of his time is one of millions of people goign out on the street protesting against him stuffing Europe with nuclear cruise missiles we didn't want, the fear of someone showing clear signs of Alzheimers disease having the key to the launch codes, of a man who in tandem with Maggie to stood for a social ethos that was beyond description for it total lack of compassion. The present hero status is beyond my understanding.