Armagh Pipers Club is an independent traditional music teaching organisation based in Armagh City. It provides classes at various levels for eight instruments and singing. It runs an annual international festival of pipe-based music, and publishes tutor books.
an The Pipers Club has developed over six decades into into a centre of excellence. Its music classes have in recent years been attended by children and adults from Armagh and seven neighbouring counties. The annual international William Kennedy Piping Festival, launched in 1994, has attracted enthusiasts of pipe-based music from all over the world. A registered charity, the Club operated for 11 years from Áras na bPíobairí, Scotch Street, but now has its administrative base in Armagh’s cultúrlann, Aonach Mhacha (74-76 Upper English Street, Armagh BT61 7LG). Its teaching takes place in rented school premises.
Since the Club was founded in 1966, thousands of young musicians have started their musical journey in the Armagh Pipers Club. Many still play today, some have pursued stellar musical careers as performers, teachers and academics. We have now on our rolls children and grandchildren of our original members.
Among APC’s ‘graduates’ who have featured prominently on the professional touring scene are Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn, Brian Finnegan, Barry Kerr, Niall Murphy, Niall Hanna, Cillian, Caoimhín and Niall Vallely, Leo McCann, Jarlath and Alana Henderson, Ríoghnach Connolly, Emma Robinson, Emer and Conor Mallon, Eilís Lavelle, and Méabh and Tiarnán Smyth. Bands that have included APC musicians include Lúnasa, Flook, Buille, Dorsa, Ioscaid, Nomos, North Cregg, Malinky, Cara Dillon Band, Afro-Celt Sound System, Bow Brothers, Braking Trad, Cúig, Karan Casey Band, Síoda, Reel to Reel, The APC Big Band, Réalta, Macha, Niall Hanna Band and many more.
Armagh Pipers Club, and its founders Brian and Eithne Vallely, have received numerous awards for their contribution to traditional music education. These include the Seán O’Boyle Cultural Traditions Award, Bass Charrington Award, Irish Music Magazine Best Festival Award, Celtic Fusion Award (Castlewellan), Fiddlers’ Green Award (Rostrevor), Gradam Ceoil TG4 Gradam Aitheantais, and in 2018, the BBC Folk Awards Good Tradition Award. So many APC students have gone on to win national awards and accolades that we daren’t mention them here for fear of forgetting some!
Most of our current teachers began their musical education in the Club and now share a wealth of experience and expertise to new generations. They nurture the pupils, develop their confidence and social skills and open their minds to new experiences as performers and listeners. The Club has produced 15 tutor books, which are used in our own classes and anywhere in the world where Irish music is taught, along with other books and a number of CDs and DVDs. Traditional music is cross-generational and we encourage parents to play music with their children.
CLASSES
The Club provides classes for adults and children at a variety of levels in a wide range of traditional instruments – currently tin whistle, flute, fiddle, banjo, accordion, concertina, harp, uilleann pipes – and in singing. These are held on Monday nights in St Catherine’s College in Armagh, with over 40 separate classes every week.
OTHER EVENTS
The Club’s students and their families come together several times a year for a session in Aonach Mhacha’s theatre. The Club also provides opportunities for its students to hear and learn from some of the leading names in traditional music. It runs Fonn Friday concerts about four times a year, each usually featuring a top singer and an instrumentalist.
Every November from 1994 to 2024, with a Covid-related break in 2020, the Club organised the William Kennedy Piping Festival. This became one of the most prestigious festivals of pipe-based music in the world, with musicians and supporters travelling to Armagh from every continent. The WKPF was replaced in 2025 with a smaller William Kennedy Weekend, but is being revived in November 2026. Other performance opportunities for our musicians are International Uilleann Piping Day and National Harp Day. We also have a Carols Concert in December, and mark Burns Night in January. The Mark Donnelly Piping Academy, formerly a springtime event, has from 2022 been incorporated into the November Festival.
STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE
The Club is a democratically run Company Limited by Guarantee, with a board of directors (who are also its charity trustees) elected directly by and from the membership. You can become a member for just £10 per year. The current board members are Brian Vallely (Armagh), Director of the Club; Judith McClenahan (Portadown); Celine Daly (Keady); Ruth Acheson (Tandragee); Philip Rea (Loughgall); Bernie Campbell (Armagh) and Thomas Smyth (Armagh). Eithne Vallely (Armagh) was Director of Music from 1969 until her death in August 2026. The co-ordinator and sole employee of the Club is Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn, and the company secretary is Ciarán Ó Maoláin (Armagh). Safeguarding Officers are Judith McClenahan and Celine Daly.
The Club is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (NIC101109) and at Companies House (NI620647). It is funded by the tuition fees paid by its students, income from the worldwide sale of its books and CDs, box office, private donors, and grant aid, principally from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and from Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. Other donors have included the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund. The Club’s accounts are available to anyone on request.
