Their parents generation had enjoyed the folk revival near Merrion square. Donoghues, the Baggot Inn on Baggot street still had music, but up and coming musicians had tired of their parents music; The Dubliners and The Dublin City Ramblers, Luke Kelly and were looking for something new. Sessions were open and without the formality of microphones. Travelling musicians would drop in during the day for a tune and stay til the wee hours. Tourism had not hit the heights of recent times and artists and students mingled in the pizza joints and slightly more upscale restaurants dotting the area.

Ceoiltoir was based in The Button Factory studios. Arguably, we owned Temple Bar…at least it felt like we owned it. There was a place for music and art in the city. The names and faces that passed Eddie and Co. at the studio desk downstairs were numerous and often shrouded in large sunglasses. Through the soundproof doors we could hear nothing, but now and a gain a snatch of a drum kit, saxophone, guitar teased our senses. Was that really Van Morrison’s band in there?

Small groups and larger bands practiced day in day out on sets to be played at out of town festivals and events around the country and the world. Auditions for shows in the Viking centre started careers for dancers and musicians alike.  Riverdance needed talent for it’s new tour, in America. Ambitions were high.

Now let’s not allow our rose-tinted glasses to get too fogged up. Even in the early 90’s one or 2 musicians were regularly paid to turn up and play for a few hours, often bringing friends and usually including a pint (or 2) for musicians. But the music was world class and more than a few musicians managed to make a living out of Gogo’s , the Aul Dub and the Norseman.

Then the word got out. The tourists flocked. The pubs filled. Microphones and PA systems were need for volume (and musicians sanity). Nights got longer. Tip jars got fuller.

How long was the hey-day? It’s not quite over yet. But joining sessions is not what it was. The pressure is on to keep the music churning, and people like a song they can sing along with. Ed Sheerin perhaps, or the odd song for the Swifties in town from Manchester on a hen for the weekend. He who pays the piper calls the tune and all.

Many of the best musicians formed bands and toured for decades (are ye back yet?). Ceoiltoir moved to Ballyfermot. Some moved away from Dublin or sought steadier jobs. Quieter tunes in bars further afield became more appealing. It is nice to hear each other after all.

There are still a few “nice, quiet” sessions to be had in Temple bar to this day. But sometimes the pleasure is in the seeking more than the finding.

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Uilleann, pronounced ill-in, is the Irish word for elbow. The piper uses one elbow to pump the bellows, which inflates the bag, and the other elbow to control the air pressure in the bag.

It is a distinctively Irish type of bagpipe that evolved from the earlier Pastoral pipes about the beginning of the 18th century and was initially referred to as Union pipes.

Uilleann pipes are made in various pitches. In the older sets the pitch is usually a tone, sometimes more, below concert pitch. Among players such pipes are known as ‘flat sets’.   

The instrument’s distinguishing features are:

• the bag is filled by a bellows, not from a blow pipe;
• the chanter or melody pipe has a range of two octaves (16 notes) as compared with a range of nine notes on the older pipes;
• the addition of regulators or closed chanters which permit an accompaniment to the melody;
• drones that can be controlled by a switch.

A lot of the development of the union pipes is attributed to William Kennedy (1768 – 1834) of Banbridge, County Down who lost his sight at the age of four but went on to become a repairer and maker of furniture, instruments and clocks. He is commemorated annually at the William Kennedy Piping Festival in Armagh.

In early December 2017 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) inscribed uilleann piping in their Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It joins an extensive list of expressions of human culture from around the world, which UNESCO has agreed constitute precious parts of human heritage.

Compiled and edited by Martin Nolan.

Sources:

History of the Uilleann pipes at www.pipers.ie

“A short history of the Uilleann pipes” by Terry Moylan published by History Ireland www.historyireland.com

Information about William Kennedy from www.armaghpipers.com

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Yes! We do a cracking version of Whiskey in the Jar along with many more songs made famous by The Dubliners, Luke Kelly, Christy Moore and The Fureys.

Do you play in pub sessions?

Yes, just drop us a line and we’ll get in touch to let you know where we’re going to be.

Where can I find a good Trad Band for my wedding?

Look no further! Asgards can play for your wedding drinks reception.

Do you play Irish Music for Wedding Ceremonies? What Irish songs are good for a wedding ceremony?

We play mostly instrumental pieces(without vocals) for wedding ceremonies. O’Carolan is a favourite and some Irish airs like She moved through the fair and Down by the Sally Gardens.

Why should I have an Irish session for my drinks reception?

There is nothing more Irish than a night in the pub and the atmosphere created by a proper traditional session is incomparable. If you have overseas visitors they will be so happy to experience some real Irish culture.

Why do people like to sing The Wild Rover?

It’s a great song to sing along to. The chorus is simple and the story is easy to follow. It’s about drinking in the pub. That’s pretty Irish!

Do you only sing Irish pub songs and ballads?

No, we also do a few contemporary songs. Have a look at the list below:

What’s the difference between The Violin and The Fiddle?

A Violin is the name of the instrument when you play Classical Music. The Fiddle is the name given when you play folk or Traditional Music. Luckily, Alison plays both!

What’s the difference between The Uilleann Pipes and The Bagpipes?

This could be the start of a joke… have a look on our page about the Uilleann pipes. One of the main differences is that the Uilleann pipes are inflated using a bellows and the Bagpipes are inflated using the breath. The Uilleann pipes are Irish, The Bagpipes are Scottish.

Here’s a list of some of the ballads we do:

Leaving of Liverpool, The Ferryman, The Wild Rover, Whiskey in the Jar, Black is the Colour (of my true love’s hair), Go lassie go (wild mountain Thyme), (it’s a long way from) Clare to here, Fields of Athenry, Missing you, Back home in Derry, Four Green fields, Dublin in the Rare oul times, Crooked Jack, City of Chicago, Lord Franklin, Dirty old town, Willie mcbride, Waxies Dargle, Waltzing  matilda, Ordinary man, I’ll tell me ma, Dicie rielly, Fiddlers green, Molly Maguires, Black velvet band, Red rose café, Spanish lady, The night visit, Molly Malone, The Irish rover, I’ll Tell Me Ma, Four Green Fields

Contemporary Songs 

Country roads (John Denver), Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash), I used to love her (The Saw Doctor’s), Fishermans blues (The Waterboys), I would walk 500 miles (The Proclaimers), Freefalling (Tom Petty), Galway Girl (Mundy), I Will Wait for you (Mumford and Sons)…

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