Letters, notices and articles sent to Breandán Breathnach relating to the society’s newsletter An Píobaire. Most of the material dates to the early 1970s including an article and illustration from Ronnie Wathen (Wathen, Ronnie, 1934-1993), Es Cloí, Deyá, Mallorca entitled ‘Beginning the pipes: a personal note’ (10 Nov 1970); ‘Latest News Snippets from Pat McNulty’, Glasgow’ (May 1972) and a retraction statement from Theodor Podnos, New Jersey, U.S.A ‘Theodor Podnos regrets the erroneous statement made in his lecture of June 19, 1972 concerning the tunings of modern Highland chanters’ (30 April 1973). Also included are two copies of An Píobaire Nov [1977] and May 1982.
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).
Included in an envelope marked, ‘Féis Cheoil piping comptn’, are draft & original correspondence between Turlough [Terry] Moylan, honorary secretary of Na Píobairí Uilleann and two members of the Feis Ceoil committee, Mrs M. E. Atock and Miss J. Hunter; a letter from Terry Moylan to Breandán Breathnach; and a copy of the Feis Ceoil ‘Syllabus of prize competitions … 1971.’ The correspondence relates to a request by Na Píobairí Uilleann for the ‘re-inclusion of piping competitions in the 1972 Feis Ceoil’ (22 Jul 1971). Na Píobairí Uilleann’s suggestion ‘received very favourable consideration’ at the Feis Ceoil committee meeting (17 Sep 1971) the issue of who would provide and finance prizes and adjudicators is raised; Na Píobairí Uilleann offer to provide plaques and three adjudicators ‘at no expense’ (30 Sep 1971); there is a disagreement about the number of adjudicators needed, the Feis Ceoil committee comment that ‘in all Feis Ceoil competitions only one adjudicator is employed … this condition must be complied with in the piping classes’ (12 Nov 1971); Na Píobairí Uilleann is ‘taken aback at the unyielding attitude’ displayed by the Feis Ceoil committee, Na Píobairí Uilleann feel they are the ‘best judges’ as to how a piping competition should be conducted and accordingly ‘they cannot accede’ to the Feis Ceoil request (18 Jan 1972).
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.’
Originally in a file marked 'NPU [Na Píobairí Uilleann] Exhibition' includes both original & draft correspondence to and from Breandán Breathnach, relating to the exhibition ‘Pipes and Piping’ and its mounting in various locations across Ireland including the Willie Clancy Summer School, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare; Muckross House, Killarney, Co. Kerry; Ulster Museum, Belfast; also included are press releases, exhibition catalogues, invitations, and press cuttings. Letters from Máirtín Talty, Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Miltown Malbay, Co Clare; David Hammond, 25 Downshire Rd, Cregagh, Belfast; Mr E. Myers, Manager, Muckross House, Killarney; Dinah Molloy, 77 Wood St, Barnet, Herts, England; Dave Williams, Uilleann Pipes & Flutes, 26 Spring Gardens, Newark, Notts; draft and original correspondence between Kathleen White, Secretary Cultural Relations Committee, Department of Foreign Affairs, Dublin 2 and Breandán Breathnach; draft and original correspondence between Bill Ochs, 467 W 46th St, New York and Breandán Breathnach; letter from Mícheál Ó Riabhaigh (Ó Riabhaigh, Mícheál, 1911-1976), Cathaoirleach, Cumann na bPíobairí Uileann [Uilleann] Corcaigh, 7 St Anne’s Drive, Montenotte Park, Cork to Liam McNulty, Na Píobairí Uileann [Uilleann], 15 Henrietta St, Dublin 1; ‘Brochure of Piping Exhibition: Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy 1974’; exhibition catalogue ‘Pipes and Piping held at C.B.S. Theatre, Sexton Street, Limerick on Saturday 12th October 1974’; draft exhibition display cards; entry form for ‘Museum's Special Exhibition Award 1980’; receipts, accommodation information, press release and various ephemera relating to exhibition. Letters and correspondence relate to the mounting of the piping exhibition at the Willie Clancy Summer School, Muckross House and Ulster Museum. There is further correspondence about the possibility of mounting the exhibition in Cork, and at the ‘Sense of Ireland festival, [and] in various centres in the United States in 1981’. Also included is an Ulster Museum press release announcing the ‘First Uilleann Pipe Concert in Ulster Museum’ featuring ‘the most distinguished pipers in Ireland’ including ‘Peter Browne, Lonan Byrne, Gerry McFadden, Liam Og O’Flynn and Trevor Stewart’.
Draft and original correspondence between Helen Hickey, Museum Curator, Fermanagh County Museum, Enniskillen to Breandán Breathnach; exhibition catalogue ‘Pipes and piping: an exhibition at the Fermanagh County Museum August 15 – October 4 1977’; and ‘Fermanagh County Museum Spring and Summer Programme 1977’. Correspondence relating to the mounting of the piping exhibition in Fermanagh County Museum, Breandán Breathnach agrees to ‘compile a tape of pipe music’ for the exhibition. Helen Hickey writes on 15 Nov 1977 that she was ‘very pleased with the response here to your exhibition. We had an attendance of over 600 people, many of whom had come long distances especially to see the exhibits.’
Letters from Aidan Walsh, BA Curator, Monaghan County Museum, The Courthouse, Monaghan to Breandán Breathnach; exhibition catalogue ‘Pipes and Piping: An exhibition from Na Piobairi Uilleann, Dublin. Monaghan County Museum, October 7 - November 3 1977’; and copies of newspaper clipping relating to the exhibition from ‘The Anglo Celt’, ‘The Northern Standard’ and ‘The Argus’. Letters relating to the mounting of the piping exhibition in Monaghan County Museum. Aidan Walsh wrote that the exhibition was ‘well received’ and that ‘our daily attendance averaged 50 throughout the exhibition which was an increase on our normal October level’ (21 Nov 1977).
Draft and original correspondence between Seán Ó Téacháin, National Museum of Ireland, Kildare St, Dublin 2; draft press release and list of newspaper contact information; draft and final copies of ‘Opening speech by Breandán Breathnach at the Exhibition ‘Pipes and Piping’ at the National Museum, Kildare Street, Dublin, from 21 July 1978’; list of ‘Players at the Museum Exhibition’; invitation to the opening of ‘Pipes and Piping’; and photograph taken at the opening of the exhibition. Correspondence relating to the mounting of the piping exhibition in the National Museum of Ireland including a list of uilleann pipers who played ‘at the exhibition each day from Tuesday to Friday inclusive’, these included ‘Dan O’Dowd, Joe McLoughlin, Robbie Hannon [Hannan], Noel Pocock, Terry Moylan, Peter Browne, Paddy Keenan, Padraig MacMathúna, Ronan Browne, Pat Mitchell, Liam Óg Ó Floinn and Andy Conroy’ (Conroy, Andy, 1911-1999) (21 July 1978).
Draft & original correspondence between Breandán Breathnach, Jackie Small, Ballinfoyle, Galway and two employees of Gaeltarra Éireann, Na Forbacha, Gaillimh [Galway], Cathal Mac Gabhann, Stiúrthoir, and Tomás Bairéad, Oifigeach Taighde; a typescript entitled ‘A Proposal for manufacture of Uilleann Pipes’ which proposes setting up the watchmaker, Brian Gallahar, ‘a skilled craftsman in a field which has some common ground with musical instrument making (in turning and boring fine metals)’ as a pipe maker in the Ros Muc Gaeltacht. Gaeltarra turn down Na Píobairí Uilleann’s proposal because of a similar venture which was being considered in Rinn, [Co. Waterford] involving ‘‘Sky’ and Liam Clancy (of the Clancy Brothers)’ [16 Apr 1976]
Included in a file marked ‘Shannon Development: Costings L. Byrne’ are draft & original correspondence between Breandán Breathnach and Nick Condon, Librarian, Shannon Development, Shannon Free Airport, Co Clare and Bruce W. Du Ve, Barr Rua, Feakle, Co Clare; and an undated photocopy of Lonan Byrne’s costs for ‘manufacturing uilleann pipes.’ The correspondence relates to a project being researched by Nick Condon ‘on pipe-making, ascertaining ways and means of making it a more productive craft industry’ (17 Feb 1977); Breathnach meets with Condon and recommends pipe-maker, Bruce De Ve; De Ve subsequently writes to Breathnach saying that ‘Shannon Development have been of little assistance of late, and although they are still working on processing my application I am not holding out great hopes’ he asks Breathnach to ‘help me by guaranteeing this bank loan’ (17 Dec 1977); Breathnach replies saying he is ‘unable to meet’ his request and notes that ‘when Shannon Development began dragging their heels I felt they had grown dubious about the enterprise and what I had earmarked for the piping I diverted elsewhere’ (3 Jan 1978).
