Uilleann Pipes Reedmaking with Joe Byrne

From 2-5pm on Wednesday 19th August, piper and reedmaker Joe Byrne will carry out a reedmaking demonstration. Reeds are the heart of the uilleann pipes and give the instrument its sound. Making reeds is a highly skilled practice of cultural heritage.

By the 1960s very few people in Ireland were playing the pipes and perhaps only five were engaged in the making of the instrument. It was of grave concern that the art would decline further and so Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU) was founded in 1968 at grassroots level by pipers themselves. This year, to celebrate National Heritage Week's theme of Heritage at Risk, this reedmaking demonstration shines a light on a vital aspect of Ireland's living cultural heritage that once faced serious decline.

The event is open to the public and free to attend. No booking required.