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Che Pipes, the Pipes are callingD6irin Mhic MhuTChuI,- recent delve into literature,especially from the pens ofJ}vis itors to Ireland, revealedmany different reactions to the pipesand pipe music down the centuries. Itwas something completely alien tomost visitors to our shores and theirreactions varied, depending on theirhumour at the time or on theirperception, or lack of it.John Dunton, a slightly loopy Englishbookseller, came to Ireland in 1699. Hehad a bookshop in London 'The BlackRaven' and published hundreds ofbooks. He also published a weeklypaper the' Athenian Gazette'. But hebecame beset by debts, and took towandering, first to America, then toHolland and Germany. In 1697 after hiswife died, he went travelling agai n andcame to Ireland in 1698 to auctionbooks in Dublin. After he had a disputewith an Irish bookseller, he wrote ascu rril ous account of thi s man in the'Dublin Scuffle', adding his Irishexperiences on to the end of it. He alsowrote a long essay on the death of hisown Madge who had caught mice forhim for 30 years!He said he had stud ied the Indians inAmerica and now wanted to do thesame for the 'Irish savages' and so wentto Connemara. He visited a chief of theO'Flahertys who took him stag huntingand to a christening where the musicwas, he said, melancholy 'as su itin g thehumours of a people always insubjection'. On his way back to Dublinhe went to a wake, and to a farmer'swedding. He seems to have enjoyedthe wedding very much.There was much piping and dancing,he remarked. The bridegroom was 'astrapping young fellow with a greyfrieze su it on', the bride wore a 'redfrieze petticoat and waist coat withgreen tape about the skirts', and awhite linen hood on her head .He also went to a hurling match,played between parishes. The prize wasa barrel of ale, and 'the conquerorswere attended by pipers who playedthe victors off the field '. Poor oldDunton died in London, mad and everybit as poverty-stricken as the worst'savages' he had described in Ireland.Dr Campbel l, a very astute observer,travelled this country mostly onhorseback in 1777. His first experienceof the pipes was at MacCarthy's ofSpringhill, near Tipperary, where he wasstaying. 'Here we were at meals, evenon Sunday, rega led with the bag-pipe,which, to my uncultivated ear, is not aninstrument so unpleasant as the lovers ofItalian music represent it'. He continues56 ____________________________________________________ _
The teachers Rob Stafford, fiddle;Tommie Finn, ba njo; Pat Coyne, guitar;Carmel Gunning, Tinwhistle; ChristyO'Leary, singi ng; Junior Davy, bodhranand Coj ie M ulling, dance werewonderfu l and they real ly workedhared to supply the students with theirknowledge.They started with courses for beginnersin the morning at l Oam. One hourlunch and then adva nced from 2pmuntil Spm. A couple of hours rest andthen sessions til 3 or 4 in the mornings.To get the beginners to play in thesess ions we had two songs that were incommon in all classes. Th is is a goodida and for next yea r we w ill put thosetwo songs on our homesite on internetand then there w i II be a sort ofornamen tation during the school.The ConcertAt Saturday noon we had a free concertin the city centre. Performing was thelocal band 'Tull amore Brothers' ChristyO 'Leary, former member of 'The Boysof the Loch' and all the teachersplaying together. Lots of peoplestrolling around in the sun stopped andappreciated the traditional Iri sh Music.This yea r the summer-school was forthree days. We have already started theplanning for next year and then we wi llexpand to four days and some moreinstruments.Many of the students told us that theyare coming back next year and bringingsome friends so hopefu lly there wi ll beat least 200 persons who will fil l up thetown with traditional Irish music, andwe also hope that there w ill be studentscoming from abroad.CCE branch in SwedenThe Swedish-Irish trad itional musicassoc iation is now trying to be the CCEbranch in Sweden and we rea lly arelooking forward to cooperation w ith<strong>Comhaltas</strong>.CH€CLAll€MANDue to overwhelming demand and massive response to thequality and price of instruments, I have decided not toadvertise in the medium term, as I am inundated withorders. Your order will be processe(as soon as possible ifyou order within the next month, on, from Ireland00-44-207-792-1993 or write to:44 Blenheim Cr, London W111NYMany thanks, Jim ShielsI would like to take the opportunity tothank Carmel, Rob, Colie, Pat, Christyand Tommie for an excellent work andturning the Orebro InternationalSummer-school of Traditional Irish Musicinto success, and a special thanks toJunior for getting these wonderfu lpersons together in our schoo l.See you next year!Leif JohannessonChairman of the Swed ish-Iri shTraditional Music AssociationJland- GraftedVio//nsRestored Older ViolinsQuality RepairsViolins, Violas & 'CellosEfficient Bow Rehairing ServiceBows, Cases, Strings and FittingsAll other string instrument repairsKevin Sykes,Killeen, Ballyvary,Co. Mayo.Ballybritt, Galway.By appointment)1 ______________________________________________ __
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