Pipers bring great sound to Nenagh

A wonderful music session was staged in Quigley’s Café in Kenyon Street, Nenagh, on Saturday week last when 10 local pipers gathered to mark International Uilleann Piping Day.

The annual event is held all over the word, in countries like the US, Argentina, Cuba, UK, France and Germany. An event was even held in Poland for the first time this year.

In Quigley’s, three pipers from Nenagh, Gerry Starr, Filip Wiewiora (14) and Francis Ryan, were joined by pipers from Templemore, Clonlara and Limerick for a great session.

Many people flocked to the venue to hear the beautiful sound of Uilleann piping and the day was deemed a tremendous success.

Among the ten pipers performing at the Nenagh venue were four females, as uilleann piping becomes much more popular among women and girls.

“It’s just great to see so many girls and women take up the pipes,” said Gerry Starr, who has been teaching youngsters in the locality for a number of years.

Among those performing was Filip Wiewiora, a Polish boy living in Nenagh, whom Gerry introduced to piping a number of years ago.

Filip took to piping like the proverbial duck to water and is said to have a great future on the uilleann pipes.

“The session in Quigley’s went down really well with everybody. Lots of people came in off the street to listen to the music and there was a lovely, friendly warm atmosphere,” said Gerry, who deemed the day was an outstanding success.

Those interested in the success of the International Uilleann Piping Day might like to have look at “MPU the world of Uileann Piping – the Argentinian story” on Youtube.