Fundraising Concert in Liberty Hall - 20th January
Armagh Pipers Club organised a Fund-raising Concert in Liberty Hall with Lúnasa, Buille, Mairtín O’Connor Trio, Karan Casey, Brian Finnegan, Andy Irvine, Daoirí Farrell, Len Graham and the APC All-Stars. The night included a raffle for a limited edition John B Vallely print.
Lecture at Na Píobairí Uilleann - date?
Brian and Eithne Vallely gave a lecture at Na Píobairí Uilleann headquarters in Dublin on the history of the Armagh Pipers Club.
Burns Night - 28th January
Burns Night was held in the Charlemont Hotel, with Jim Hanna, Kevin Daly and many APC pupils and teachers.
'The Sound of Ireland' in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin - 30th January
Na Píobairí Uilleann organised a special concert entitled ‘The Sound of Ireland’ in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, to celebrate the designation of uilleann pipes by UNESCO as an intangible cultural treasure. Armagh Pipers Club was represented on stage by Éamonn Curran, Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn, Eithne and Brian Vallely.
Annual St Patrick's Festival Concert - date?
The Annual St Patrick’s Festival Concert took place in the Marketplace Theatre with all musicians and teachers taking part. MCs were Sadhbh McCabe and Cormac Houlahan.
Féile na Tána, Carlingford - date?
Féile na Tána took place in Carlingford, directed by Zoe Conway and John McIntyre. Classes were available in all traditional instruments, including workshops with Pipers Club members – Brian Finnegan on whistle and Mark Mohan on banjo.
Jarlath Henderson and Niall Hanna perform with the Ulster Orchestra - 18th March
BBC Radio Ulster, in partnership with the IMBOLC Festival, present the Ulster Orchestra from the Guildhall, Derry, with the Jarlath Henderson Band and Niall Hanna.
Radio 2 Folk Awards, Belfast - 4th April
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards came for the first time to the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. Armagh Pipers Club was presented with the ‘Good Tradition Award’ by Tommy Sands in recognition of its 52 years of promoting and developing Irish traditional music. The Concert was presented by Mark Radcliffe and Julie Fowlis. Top musicians from the club performed a number of original compositions by Brian Finnegan and Niall Vallely. Jack Warnock was also short-listed for the Young Folk Award, previous winners of which had included the APC alumni Ioscaid and Jarlath Henderson. The Finale performance was played by Brian Finnegan, Niall Vallely, Jarlath Henderson, Rónán Stewart, Eilis Lavelle, Niall Hanna, Niall Murphy and Caoimhín Vallely.
Musical Footsteps workshops
Outreach workshops for Musical Footsteps continued with 60 children from Armstrong P.S. and St Patrick’s P.S. taking part in a day of workshops on singing, story-telling, dancing and music.
Spring Concert, Carlingford
A Spring Concert was held in Holy Trinity Arts Centre, Carlingford with the ‘Planet Harp’ group along with soloists Peter McKenna (pipes) and Saoirse O’Hare and Pearse Óg McMahon (songs).
Post-Easter Programme - May and June
The Club’s post-Easter special programme continued with events, including Piping Slow Airs, Music of Celebration, and Introduction to Sean-Nós Dance with Jonathan McCloy.
More Musical Footsteps workshops
Musical Footsteps workshops took place in the Garage Theatre, Monaghan, this time catering for pupils from Irish-medium schools.
Armagh City Song Trail
Armagh City Song Trail involved a walking tour of the city performing songs and music associated with various landmarks starting at St Patrick’s C. of I. Cathedral and ending in Scotch Street at Áras na bPíobairí.
A Night at the Races
Another fund-raising event was organised by the Committee – this time ‘A Night at the Races’ in Pearse Óg Club.
Arts Council funding denied
We were shocked to hear of denial of our regular funding by the Arts Council due to the failure of our application to register on its online processing system. Extensive efforts to have the application considered were unsuccessful and the Club faced an uncertain future – but its leadership was determined to ride out the crisis.
Piping Live!, Glasgow - August
A Pipers Club group consisting of Éamonn Curran, Gerry Lappin, Fintan Mulholland, Aoibheann and Déaglan Ó Doibhlinn performed at Piping Live! in Glasgow.
Pop-Up Sessions
The young musicians gathered together for an afternoon of Pop-up Sessions in Armagh City Centre to publicise the upcoming classes.
New locations for classes
Classes have now been moved from St Patrick’s Grammar School to Coláiste Chaitríona, St Catherine’s College Irish-Medium Unit.
Oidhreacht project begins
A new project was initiated for the harp and pipe classes in memory of recently deceased musicians, Tommy Peoples, Vincent Campbell, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and Liam O’Flynn with a performance planned for January.
William Kennedy Piping Festival - 15th to 18th November
This year’s WKPF placed a big emphasis on the singing tradition, and included an event for tiny tots, ‘I am a Little Boat’ with Fiona Kelleher and Caoimhín Vallely.
During the festival a Blue Plaque was unveiled in Tandragee by Ulster History Circle to mark the 250th Anniversary of the birth of William Kennedy.
Ceol na Nollag - 15th December
The year ended with ‘Ceol na Nollag’ at Áras na bPíobairí.