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.
Original typed letter/contract from Ben Travers, Copyright Department, British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London, to Len Clifford, Seapoint, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Commissioning Seán Ó Riada ‘to write the incidental music for our Television Drama Play “The Playboy of the Western World.”’ A fee of ‘£8.00 per minute’ is suggested but has been amended to £8.50 and initialled. The fee is to ‘cover composition, scoring and the right to record the music as desired for world television and world showing of non-paying audiences.’ The contract is signed by both Ben Travers & Len Clifford.
Draft & original correspondence between Len Clifford and two employees of RTÉ, Janet Wynne and Tom McGrath; and two copies of the ‘Report of Chairman of Jury Selecting Songs for the Contest.’ The correspondence relates to the National Song Contest, 1972 and Len Clifford’s role as chairman of the jury. Clifford is paid £40 for the job which ‘usually takes between three and four days.’ He writes to Tom McGrath on the 8 January 1972 enclosing the report of ‘the Panel.’ He says that the task was a ‘gruelling’ one but he very much enjoyed working with the other members of the jury, Frank Dermody, Louis Stewart, Tony Wilson and musician, Noel Kelehan. The report details the ‘Terms of reference’, ‘Procedure Adopted’ and ‘Result.’ The following English and Irish songs were chosen by the jury: ‘Certain Sunday’, Don’t need your Sympathy’, ‘It would take a Miracle’, ‘Tar Liom’, ‘Posadh nó Buaileadh Nos’ and ‘Óró Áine.’ The jury was unanimous in all its choices.
This series relates to the uilleann piping organisation Na Píobairí Uilleann which was founded in 1968. The majority of the papers relate to the early years of the organisation from 1968–1978, when Breandán Breathnach was chairman. A large amount of the correspondence is addressed to the chairman’s home address, 47 Frascati Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. There are also letters addressed to other committee members including secretary, Brian Vallely and Terry Moylan. The objectives of the organisation are to ‘promote and encourage the playing of the uilleann pipes; to collect and preserve music for the instrument in any manner considered feasible by the council; to assemble materials and carry out research on the history of the pipes and pipers; to issue from time to time publications about piping and the affairs of the association; to spread the knowledge of reed making and to promote the making of pipes.’ (BBR-18712/5/2). The series is divided into three subseries, the first contains some financial and administrative documents relating to various NPU premises and to specialist equipment acquired by the organisation. The objectives of the organisation are reflected in the second subseries ‘Activities’ with documents relating to the society’s bulletin An Píobaire; the music competition, Feis Ceoil; letters relating to the organisation of some of the early Tionól [Pipers’ Gatherings]; the piping exhibition Pipes and Piping, which was exhibited around the country in various locations; and documents relating to proposals sent to Gaeltarra Éireann, Shannon Development and The Carnegie United Kingdom Trust for grant aid to assist in setting up pipe makers in business. The final subseries, ‘General Correspondence 1969-1982’, contains letters from many uilleann pipers active in the society in the 1970s.
This subseries contains correspondence, accounts book, membership lists, receipts, meeting minutes, rules and objective documents, insurance policies, rent notices, bills and equipment manuals relating to the early years of Na Píobairí Uilleann, particularly to the period when their premises was located at 32 East Essex Street, Dublin 2.
Financial documents and receipts relating to the activities of Na Píobairí Uilleann. Included are an entry sheet for ‘Cumann na bPiobairí Uilleann / Uilleann Pipers' Club Members Private Sweep on The Grand National, Run at Aintree..., 1963; a hardback copy listing names & subscription payments to Na Píobairí Uilleann (1968-1972), the first entry is as follows ‘26th October 1968. Convention held at Bru na Gael, North Great George’s Street. Subscriptions were collected by me and the names of subscribers noted with addresses.’ The copy also includes ‘income’ and ‘expenditure’ accounts for these years. Also included are receipts for among other things, printing of the society’s newsletter An Píobaire, the printing of photographs from a pipers’ gathering in 1973, receipts for materials relating to reed making e.g. ‘12 balls of hemp, £1.07’ as well as receipts for the purchase of publications.
One complete set of handwritten minutes for a meeting held in Ely Place on 24 Oct 1970. ‘A general meeting, Breandán Breathnach presided, about 35 present. The first thing was a minutes silence in respect of the memory of Leo Rowsome’ (Rowsome, Leo, 1903-1970); it also includes an undated fragment of minutes; a letter from Paddy Moloney to Breandán Breathnach offering apologies that he won’t be able to attend meeting on 21 Oct 1972; an original master-copy of Na Píobairí Uilleann’s headed notepaper; a copy of an announcement of the establishment of Na Píobairí Uilleann; and a copy of the society’s rules.
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].
Correspondence, catalogues, instruction manuals and receipts relating to the purchase of a music typewriter from the Music Print Corporation, New York by Na Píobairí Uilleann. Also included is a letter to Mr P. Glackin (Glackin, Paddy), Traditional Music Officer, Arts Council, [Dublin] relating to grants awarded to Na Píobairí Uilleann & the Folk Music Society for the ‘cost of the musicwriter’ and ‘cost of laying out the Goodman mss’ and the ‘cost of preparing the Petrie mss for printers.’ (5 May 1981)
This subseries relates to the various activities carried out by Na Píobairí Uilleann to promote their organisation, as well as, the art of uilleann piping and pipe making. These activities include the publication of it newsletter An Píobaire, exhibitions on uilleann piping, the promotion of the uilleann pipes through participation in music competitions like Feis Ceoil and the establishment of pipe making companies throughout Ireland.
