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Breandán Breathnach Collection File
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Tionól

Letters, documents and posters relating to the organisation of piping Tionól, workshops and concerts. Notice of ‘Second annual autumn meeting of NPU on Saturday the 8th of November... in Brú na Gael, Dublin’ [1969]. Included are letters from the Irish Countrywomen’s Association, An Grianán, Termonfechin [Termonfeckin], Drogheda, Co Louth relating to the ‘Annual Conference of Na Píobairí Uilleann, May 1971’, ‘May 1972’ and 18 May 1973. A programme of events for ‘An Tionol Piobaireachta 1973, An Grianan, Termonfeckin, Co Louth’; also letters from Kieran Crinion, Neptune Hotel, Bettystown, Co Meath relating to the the pipers’ Tionól, Bettystown 20 May 1976. Letters from Séamus MacMathúna, Wexford to Breandán Breathnach about an event in [Wexford] Arts Centre on the 29 April 1978; also an undated [1970s ?] letter from C.B.S., Limerick to Breandán Breathnach about the ‘Seanchas’ event where ‘25 trainee cadets are coming down specially from the Curragh to this session.’ Also included are undated draft posters for an event ‘Pipes & Fiddles’ with ‘Seamus Ennis (Ennis, Séamus, 1919-1982), John Kelly (Kelly, John, 1912-1987), Sean Keane, Paddy Maloney [Paddy Moloney] and Guests.’

The Carnegie United Kingdom Trust

Letter from Eamonn Fitzgerald, c/o Michael Ó Ciarán, Glasleac, Shercock, Co Cavan; draft letter from Breandán Breathnach to Donal McGahan, Foras Eireann, Fitzwilton House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2; and original & draft correspondence between Breandán Breathnach and Janet Allan, Administrative Assistant, Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, Comely Park House, Dunfermline. The letter from Eamonn Fitzgerald describes the apprenticeship which he is serving with 80 year old pipe maker Michael Ó Ciaraín in Cavan. He lists a number of other pipe makers in the country including Alf & Moss Kennedy. He refers to the financial problems which have been faced by Ó Ciaraín ‘he has made a good few sets of pipes in his time and some good ones too. However he was always hampered by lack of money trying to make a living on a 15 acre farm in Cavan is not easy’ Fitzgerald is asking Na Píobairí Uilleann to ‘endorse my work if I could make good pipes’ he has managed to ‘get a grant of £1000 per year for 3 years from the Carnegie Trust’ (21 Jul 1976). Breathnach writes to Mr Donal McGahan, Foras Eireann, saying that Na Píobairí Uilleann would be willing ‘to act as intermediary in the payment of the grand which the Carnegie Trust awarded him [Eamonn Fitzgerald] to enable him to study uilleann pipe making’ (15 Aug 1977).

Seán Reid Letters: 1937

Letters from various friends and relatives to Seán Reid who at this time is the ‘Assistant Road Surveyor’ in Ennis, Co. Clare. Letters are mostly addressed to John Reid, ‘Carmel’, Victoria Rd, Ennis, Co Clare. Letters are from, among others, ‘Jas. Leahy’, Mícheál de Búrca, E. J. McGrath, D[enis] Dunphy, ‘F? Dowling’, Tommie [Potts] (Potts, Tommie, 1912–1988), 6 Watkins Buildings, Ardee St, Dublin, John Potts, Mick Malone and Liam Ó Ceallaigh. Many letters contain references to musicians, feiseanna, céilí, music lessons, including a letter from ‘D Dunphy’ (6 May 1937) which encloses a programme for ‘Feis Thír-Eóghain 22nd-23rd May, 1937 in St Patrick’s Hall and Foresters’ Hall, Omagh.’ A letter from ‘Tommie [Potts]’ (22 July 1937) makes reference to a recent feis win by Reid ‘all of us were delighted to hear of your fiddling success’ and in a letter from John Potts (11 August 1937) he lists a number of his current uilleann pipe students including ‘Fr Jones’, ‘Bro Gildas’, ‘Mr Andrews’ and Mr Kearney’.

Seán Reid Letters: 1927-1936

Letters from various friends and relatives to Seán Reid who between these years lived at a number of addresses including: Ormeau Road, Belfast; Hibernian Hotel, Borrisokane, Co Tipperary; 70 Haddington Road, Dublin and Royal Oak Road, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow. Letters from Seán Reid’s mother, Scarvagherin, Co Tyrone are personal in nature. Letters from Rev Leo Browne, Verdun, Montreal, refer to Reid as his ‘dear old sparring partner’ (6 Oct 1927), and Redmond [Nugent?], Erganagh, Castlederg, refer to training and boxing and talk about the ‘good old times’. Letters of a more musical nature with references to uilleann pipes, fiddles, and various Irish music publications including ‘O’Neill’s music for Piano & Violin’ and ‘Moore’s Melodies’ are exchanged with the following people: John Potts, 6 Watkins Blds., Off Ardee St, Dublin, who is glad to hear that Reid is ‘progressing with the pipes’; ‘John’, Spamount, Castlederg, [Co Tyrone]; ‘Brian’, 23 Salisbury Gardens, Belfast; D[enis] Dunphy, Spamount, Castlederg, Co. Tyrone; ‘M. McGlinchey’, R.U.C Barracks, York St, Belfast; ‘M. Foley’, Kuigh, Nenagh, Co Tipperary and ‘J. Leahy’, The Chalet, Ballinaclough, Nenagh. There are also two undated letters from Paddy Brennan and ‘R Freeman’, Dooleys Hotel, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow. The letter writers say that they ‘miss [Reid] a lot here, no pipes, no violin, nothing but the Gramophone to remind us of you.’

Seán Reid Ephemera

Various items of ephemera including concert programmes, receipts and newspaper clippings. These relate to Feiseanna, Conradh na Gaeilge, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (GAA) and An Cumann Gaelach, Queen's University Belfast. Included are a ‘Programme of Concert in New Cinema, Thurles, November 14th, 1935’ and ‘Clár Feis Charman 1936’.

Seán Ó Riada Concert, University College Dublin

Copy of a letter from Séamus Gallagher, Students Representative Council (S.C.R), College of Technology, Bolton St, Dublin 1 to Len Clifford, Gael Linn, Grafton St, Dublin 2; draft & original correspondence from Len Clifford (Leon Ó Clúmháin) to musicians and singers including Seán Mac Donncha (Mac Donncha, Seán, 1919-1996), Willie Clancy (Clancy, Willie, 1918-1973), Tony Mac Mahon and Seán Ó Ceallaigh; list of 60 dancers, singers, harpists, box players and pianists; poster of cancelled concert ‘An Evening with Sean Ó Riada, Easter Friday 16th April.’ Letter from Séamus Gallagher to Len Clifford cancelling ‘proposed O Riada concert which we had hoped to sponsor.’ The reason he gives for this cancellation is that ’it appears our organisation is grossly inefficient.’ Further correspondence between Clifford and musicians and singers informing them of the cancellation and notifying them of a new concert ‘at the same fee’ on the 5 March 1971 in UCD. Further letters detailing travel and rehearsal arrangements for the rescheduled concert.

Premises

This file relates to the various premises of Na Píobairí Uilleann including 44 Parnell Sq, Dublin 1; 32 East Essex St, Dublin 2; and 15 Henrietta St, Dublin 1. It includes receipts, rent notices, architect reports, electricity bills, public liability policy for 32 Essex Street, Dublin 2 and invitations to various dignitaries to the opening of Na Píobairí Uilleann’s new headquarters at 32 East Essex Street on 24 October 1975. Also included is correspondence between the Property Department, Dublin Corporation and Breandán Breathnach relating to the demolition of 32 East Essex Street ‘following an inspection the Chief Architect has advised that the premises has deteriorated considerably during the past 2 years, the roof is beyond repair, that the days of this premises are numbered and the cost of maintaining it even for a limited time is totally unacceptable’ (30 June 1977). Also included are documents relating to the rent of Na Píobairí Uilleann premises by other organisations including Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and the Folk Music Society of Ireland. Originally included in an envelope marked 'Gemma' is correspondence and photographs relating to the purchase / donation of a mahogany Georgian fireplace from Newry and Mourne Co-Operative Society for the organisation’s new premises [in Henrietta Street, Dublin].

Post Retirement Index (PRI)

The Breandán Breathnach Post-Retirement Index, or PRI for short, was the name given to this melodic card index by Jackie Small so that the resource could be distinguished from the other two Breathnach indexes. Breathnach retired from University College Dublin in 1977 at the age of 65. PRI is written on 6302 index cards, each 15.5 X 10.5 cm in size.
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