ARMAGH American group Millish, Goat System from France and the Griff Trio from Belgium. We also, for the first time, have pipers from Greece and Croatia. “Of course, there is also a strong line-up of uilleann pipers and the concert finale on the Sunday will feature players including Eoin Ó Riabhaigh, Tommy Keane, Ivan Goff, Mikie Smyth and Michael O'Connell.” Given the worldwide talent on show, it follows that the event will attract a global audience but it remains very popular with music lovers living in and around the Armagh area. Brian explained: “We have people travelling from America and Germany, Italy, Spain and France. We also have people coming from Sweden, Denmark, Japan and Australia. Having said that the main audience is still local — it attracts the pipe band crowd, Irish pipe crowd, and also general traditional music fans. “We have loads of sessions and some musicians just come to take part in them. It's a bit like Piping Live!, there is a mixture of paying
concerts and free events. We send musicians to play at various locations and others can come along and join in. “We have loads of classes in various aspects of piping but also for people with any instruments to learn Galician music or Italian music or whatever.” While the early festivals featured only solo pipers, the line-up has evolved greatly over the years to incorporate a variety of pipe-focused acts. And another aspect which couldn't have been conceived of years ago — because of the divide in the community — is the addition of concerts in the cathedral and a religious service featuring the pipes. Brian said: “We have concerts in the Church of Ireland Cathedral and a religious piping service on the Sunday. We had it last year for the first time and it’s a major event. Canntaireachd played last month at the Charles Wood Choral Festival in the Armagh First Presbyterian Church. The majority of the Armagh Piping
Club members are Catholic and would not have been through the door of it before but the fact is, it is possible now. “We are breaking down barriers with the piping. Not by putting up banners saying we are solving this, we are simply creating the level playing field and the space where people feel comfortable and can identify with what they already know. “We have been developing since the first festival in 1994 and have probably done more for community relations than all the millions spent on programmes which quite often emphasise difference rather than trying to consolidate areas of agreement. The creation of Canntaireachd is a real milestone and really consolidates things in Armagh in a way you couldn’t possibly explain. “Piping is a great unifier. Locally, universally and in every way.” l To find out more about the festival, or to book tickets, log on to www.armaghpipers. org/wkpf.
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