Frankie Gavin concert a sell-out success
The famed fiddler Frankie Gavin, accompanied by pianist Catherine McHugh, played on 24 March in Armagh City Hotel. The fantastic concert , promoted by Armagh Pipers Club, sold out, with over 200 attending.
The Pipers Club supporting act was very well received and the event provided a welcome boost to the funds of the Club, including through the proceeds of a draw for a JB Vallely print (won by a member of the audience with number 44).
Armagh Pipers Club: teaching Irish traditional music since 1966!
Throughout that time our aim has always been to deliver high-quality, low-cost instruction in a caring, supportive and safe environment, focussing on enjoyment rather than competition. We teach accordion, banjo, concertina, fiddle, flute, harp, session playing, singing, tin whistle and of course the uilleann pipes.
Term 1 concluded with our traditional Christmas Carols and Session on Monday 12 December. Term 2 runs from January to Easter, and Term 3 from Easter to mid-June. To register a returning student for Term 2 costs £100 for one student, £175 for two from the same household, £225 for three and £275 for four or more. The fee can be paid online here or by cash, cheque or card on a class night. We do not usually charge for Term 3.
If you want to register a new student or students, please fill in this online form and then go here to pay by whichever way suits you best.
For all class dates and other Pipers Club events for 2022-23, click here.
London College of Music exams
The Club will host the Spring examinations for LCM grades in late March or early April. If you/your child would like to take part in the Summer examinations, please complete the booking form which will be circulated at classes and return it to the Club no later than 28 April, with full payment (Grade 1 £47; Grade 2 £54; Grade 3 £60; Grade 4 £64; Grade 5 £70; Grade 6 £81; Grade 7 £88; Grade 8 £101). Tutors will advise on the grade most suited to you/your child. You can click here for details of the syllabus for each grade.
William Kennedy Piping Festival
The 28th edition of the William Kennedy Piping Festival took place in Armagh City over the weekend of 17-20 November 2022. After the uncertainty of recent years, the festival was delighted to present a full programme of concerts, sessions, workshops, and lectures right across the city, and it was good to welcome visitors and friends – new and old – to the ecclesiastical capital once again. See selected images from the 2022 edition, and previous Festivals, here.
Programme highlights included an exciting new project entitled ‘inB’ which featured Scottish pipers Brìghde Chaimbeul and Fin Moore along with uilleann pipers Louise Mulcahy and Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn. Former Moving Hearts and Riverdance piper Declan Masterson made his first visit to the festival, while local legends Jarlath Henderson and Cillian Vallely made welcome visits home – the latter performing a specially commissioned new body of work along with the world-famous Fidelio Trio. The international dimension of the festival was further enhanced by 12-piece Portuguese band Orquestra de Foles, the Trio Lampetròn from Italy, Joey Abarta from the USA, and Scottish pipers Rory Campbell and Alana MacInnes.
Other acts included the Dunne family – Mickey, Niamh and Bríd – from County Limerick; Paddi Benson, Grace Lemon and James Patrick Gavin from London; Aaron O’Hagan and Luke Ward from Belfast; and local highland piper Brendan Murphy. The Festival also featured the intensive Mark Donnelly Piping Academy.
The William Kennedy Piping Festival was organised by Armagh Pipers Club with funding assistance from Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon Borough Council, and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Additional sponsorship was provided by the Donnelly family, Armagh City Hotel, Red Ned’s Bar, Madden’s Bar (Belfast), The Hole in the Wall Bar and Armagh Sports & Trophies.
About the Club
Armagh Pipers Club is an independent traditional music teaching organisation based in Armagh City. It provides around 1,000 lessons per year, at various levels, for eight instruments and singing. It also runs an annual international festival of pipe-based music. For more information click here…
Classes : Books & CDs : Festival
We are grateful for the support of our principal funders:
