Originally in a file marked ‘Seán Ó Riada’ (Ó Riada, Seán, 1931-1971) these documents seem to have once belonged to Len Clifford, Seapoint Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin, a solicitor who worked in the administrative section of Gael Linn Records, Grafton Street, Dublin 2. Clifford set up a talent agency in the early 1970s, his primary client was Seán Ó Riada.
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).
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.
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.
Letters from Seán Reid; Tom Busby; Wilbert Garvin; Paddy Moloney, Managing Director, Claddagh Records; Mícheál Ó Riabhaigh, Cork (Ó Riabhaigh, Mícheál, 1911-1976); Pat McNulty, Glasgow; Barry O’Neill, Ann Arbor, Michigan; John Curry, Williamsburg, Virginia; Roly Brown, Hungerford, Berkshire; Micheál Ó Ciaráin, Cavan; and Tony Engle, Director, Topic Records. An undated letter from Tom Busby [1970] congratulates Breathnach for ‘having the courage to organize such a necessary and wonderful association as Na Píobairí Uilleann’.
Letters from Ronnie Wathen; Brendan Saunders, Derry; David O’Docherty, London; Theodor Podnos; Pat McNulty; John Curry; Willie Reynolds (Reynolds, Willie, 1916-2003); draft letters from Breandán Breathnach to Seán Reid (Reid, Seán, 1907-1978); correspondence between Breandán Breathnach and ‘Mr E. H. Tupling’, London; letters from Patrick Farrell, Dublin 4; Tom Sheridan, London; Roisín White, Warrenpoint, Co Down; Seán McGuire, Cavan. Includes correspondence between Breandán Breathnach and Doirín Clancy [widow of Willie Clancy (Clancy, Willie, 1935-2009)] which refers to tapes of Willie Clancy’s playing and getting copies of these recordings made for various people for a Claddagh Records LP.
Draft & original correspondence between Breandán Breathnach and Ken McLeod, Robert McMahon, Alaska; and Jackie Small. Correspondence between Breathnach and McMahon relate to ‘procuring a practice set from Kevin Thompson’ (20 Oct 1976)
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).
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).
Letters from Roderick D. Cannon; Mick Farrell, Melbourne; Séamus [Ennis] (Ennis, Séamus, 1919-1982); Sammy Wade, Antrim; Ciss Talty, Miltown Malbay, Co Clare; Robbie Hannan; Eilish Moore, Dublin suggesting a presentation to Seamus Ennis should take place ‘Recently Seamus Ennis played in the venue and he moved me so much that I feel compelled to do something for this gentleman. It has been suggested to me by various musicians that a public presentation should be made to this gentleman in appreciation for his contribution to Irish Music’ (26 May 1977); letter from C.I.H. Bayley, Teddington, Middlesex, who is making ‘uilleann and Northumbrian Pipes as a hobby’ he is looking for information ‘on the construction of extra regulators’ includes five diagrams (1 June 1977); letter from James T. McGuire Jr, Evanston, Illinois, who is carrying out research on ‘chief Francis O’Neill (O’Neill, Francis, 1848-1936) and other Chicago Musicians, especially pipers’ (17 Oct 1977); letter from Padraig Ó Fearail enclosing a copy of the programme for ‘Éigse Mhantáin, Royal Starlight Hotel, Bray October 7/8, 1977’ (23 Oct 1977).
