Burns Night - 25th January
Burns Night took place in the Charlemont Hotel. The haggis was piped in by Jim Hanna and was followed by the Burns Supper. The Céilidh was organised by Pearse McMahon, Dermot Mulholland and Colleen Connolly.
Mark Donnelly Piping Day - date?
The Piping Day to remember Mark Donnelly had a good turn-out of pipers.
Annual Concert - 12th March
The APC Annual Concert in the Marketplace Theatre with Ciara O’Hanlon taking on MC duties.
Feis an Earraigh trip to Skye - April?
An APC group travelled to Feis an Earraigh in Skye: Aisling O’Riordan, Caoimhe Ní Bhradáin, Éabha Houlahan, Aoife & Annie Smyth, Anna O’Donnell, Sadhbh McCabe, Tara Gilsenan, Bláthnaid Hendron, Clíodhna Fegan, Aisling O’Hare, Iarla McMahon, Peter McKenna and Brendan Mallon along with supervisors: Pearse McMahon, Méabh Smyth, Eimhear Mulholland, and Patrick Gilsenan.
Singing Session - 7th April
A Singing Session was held in Áras na bPíobairí with guest singer Len Graham.
Work continuing on the 'Musical Footsteps' project - May
The Club’s Heritage Lottery Project “Musical Footsteps” continued with weekly digital training by Brendan Mallon, singing workshops under the direction of Sean Mone, Karan Casey, Róisín White & Len Graham. A multi-media performance on the theme of Musical Heritage, was devised by Sally Walmsley to be premiered at WKPF in November and rehearsals got under way.
'A World of Song' project
‘A World of Song’ project was developed under the direction of Pearse McMahon & Eithne Vallely with a view to documenting the local song tradition and songs regularly taught in the Club. It was decided to call the book ‘By Dobbin’s Flowery Vale’, and it would contain music and lyrics of over 40 songs with 2 CDs to be recorded. Recordings were contributed by singers who have provided tuition in the Club over many years as well as original recordings by teachers and pupils.
Post-Easter programme
Our post-Easter tuition programme included LCM Grade preparation classes, singing classes for adults and children, pipe maintenance and reed-making, musical literacy, performance skills, harp group rehearsals, and adults session.
'Planet Harp' - June
The Club organised a summer concert at Armagh Planetarium, to present ‘Planet Harp’ under direction of Eilis Lavelle and Emer Mallon. Harpers were Ciara O’Hanlon, Muireann Harraghy, Alannah Mitchell, Aideen O’Hanlon, Sarah Byrne, Ellen McKernan, Philip McClenahan, Ríoghnach McKinney, Edy Qua, Gráinne Ní Bhradáin, Clara Mackle and Anna Brolly, with solos from Niamh & Erin Sands, Pearse Óg McMahon, Sarah Murphy, & fiddlers Annie Smyth, Sadhbh McCabe & Danú McKinney.
Summer Singing Session - June
A Summer Singing Session was held in the Áras with special guest, Rosie Stewart.
Launch of 'Dobbins Flowery Vale' song book - June
Our song collection “Dobbin’s Flowery Vale” was launched in Áras na bPíobairí by Paul McAvinchey. The Club is grateful to the Arts Council NI Small Awards for funding the project. Songs were chosen and taught by Pearse McMahon and Eithne Vallely, original recordings done by Niall Murphy, Brendan Mallon & Niall Vallely, images by Lorcan Vallely and design and layout by Máire Vallely. Most of the singers in the book performed at the launch starting off with Cathal O’Neill.
Caitlín Ní Chearúlláin leaves
Caitlín Ní Chearúlláin leaves APC to take up a new position in the Irish Language sector, and will be based in Downpatrick. We are hugely indebted to her for her work in developing APC activities. She is succeeded as the Club’s development worker by Ciarán Ó Maoláin.
Piping Live! performance
A senior Group travelled to Piping Live in Glasgow under the direction of Caolán Hendron. Taking part were Rós Hendron, Finnola Mallon, Mairéad Mitchell, Oisín McCann, Tiarnán Smyth and Jack Warnock.
Autumn Singing Session
A Singing Session took place with guest Ann Martin who also took workshops with the singing classes.
October Events
A special Concert was held in Áras na bPíobairí with Conor Mallon, Sabrina Palm & Steve Crawford.
We welcomed a large group of young musicians from South Wexford to visit Armagh Pipers Club.
International Uilleann Piping Day was held in conjunction with a Coffee Morning.
'Musical Footsteps' performance as part of WKPF - November
A performance of the multi-media Musical Footsteps project (see programme in File with names & pieces performed) was held in the Marketplace Theatre.
New CDs launched
Both Niall Hanna and Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn launched new CDs.
Plans for 2018
Plans were made for a major fund-raising concert to take place in Dublin in January.