However, in terms of Irish music, women pipers are few and far between. The only one who springs to mind is Máire Ní Ghráda from Cork who plays a couple of tracks on the Mulligan album 'The Piper's Rock' (LUNCD 023), released in 1978. She was in her late teens at the time, but I'm unable to report what she's up to nowadays.
Bliss, I remember seeing two sisters playing Harp & Uilleann Pipes with Nollaig Casey way back in the late 1970's at a festival party in London. Sorry I don't remember their names but I do remember that they played brilliantly & I can still hear Frankie Gavin whooping encouragement.
At that party I also heard a very young John Carty play Banjo for the first time & boy did he knock the crowd for six with his solo set! Must have been scarey enough for him, what with Barney McKenna & Charlie Piggott in the crowd!
Of course in Northumbrian Piping circles you have Kathryn Tickell & Pauline Cato to name but two.
There are also loads of ladies who play the Highland Bagpipes.
Guess you'll have to look elsewhere Bliss for your "last male bastion"!
Comb & paper maybe?
There was a young woman who used to live in New England 7 or 8 years ago named Bonnie Dixon. Who had quite fair chops on both Great pipes and various small pipes, I don't believe she played uillen pipes though.
There was a young lady playing some great stuff on the pipes in the Maghera Inn, Co. Down last Friday, one of two young lady pipers that I have recently noticed.
Grace Lemon, Cambridge- plays pipes, won the U12 All Ireland twice, I think, as well as the slow airs.
She's very good, and still only about 13. By very good, i mean, seriously good, better than most people will ever get.
Máire Ní Grada was at our west coast tionol in 2005 and is a great piper. I'd love to hear a CD from her.Then there is Feadogin on C&F, and Nicola and Meridith in California. I see someone mentioned Marion McCarthy as well (also at the West Coast Tionol in 2006)
Hi Bodhran Bliss ,to answer your question "has anyone seen a female piper",I can report that 6 of these mermaid -like creatures competed in under 12 all -Ireland competitions at Letterkenny last August, 2 in the 12-15 section 4 in the 15-18 section and 2 in the senior competition.That make 14 sightings ,at least in letterkenny this year!
I don't know her name apart from Emily, but a young North American woman (ie I don't whether she was USAian Canadian) turned up at a recent session organised by Aidan ( I thought it was meant to be relatively clandestine to keep aforementioned wasters away, but he thanked attendants on here on this thread: http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/11986/comments#comment244269 )and she was very useful. That said that's the only time I can recall seeing a female U-piper. Yes I think it is a rarity, but I don't know why. Desi Black reckons it is because the pipes are a physically demanding instrument. But women run marathons , climb Everest, even give birth to babies! -so I don't go along with that one nowadays. I wonder why though. Most likely some kind of tradition, but I suspect also a male "geekish" obsessive temperament might be a useful attribute. Please forgive any sexist allusions here. I don't mean that to be the case. Good thread, though, BB.
Well, I believe Louise Mulcahy won an All-Ireland championship on the pipes one year but not sure what age group. The Mulcahy family will be coming to the Catskills this summer for the Catskills Irish Arts Week for the first time.
At the East Coast Tionol there were several female pipers including the organizer Susanne Ward.
Not only do we have the excellent uilleann piper, Debbie Quigley, in Toronto, but alsoliving in Toronto is Kelly Hood, who plays uilleann pipes, is an excellent highland piper and scottish small piper as well. In Guelph we have Margaret Stalker, who has quite the arsenal of pipes--- scottish smallpipes In D and A, northumbrian pipes and uilleann pipes......And last but not least, uilleann piper Janice Crewe who is formerly from Toronto area (not sure where she lives now)...And I'm sure there's scads more excellent female pipers out there!
There's a female piper called Lynne at one of my sessions. She also plays flute and a number of stringed things though - not just pipes. I also new a piper called Lucy when in Cambridge but I don't know if she's still there or not. I think she taught Grace Lemon for a bit.
Lucy ! - I forgot she played pipes - yeah, she used to live in SE London. Was known more as a fiddle player then (maybe 7-10 years ago?) and a brilliant fiddler she was too. Glad to hear she is now "thought of" as a piper also, and no doubt has become well accomplished in that sphere.
Clareman is right. Louise Mulcahy was the first name that sprang to my mind.
If there are any, among those who go to the Catskills festival this summer, who haven´t heard the Mulcahy family, then they´re in for a very nice surprise.
I haven't seen or talked to her in quite a while, but Fiona Docherty who lives in Charlestown, Mayo is a very talented piper who has also taught pipes and used to run a piper's group here in the states when she lived here. She is known more for her fiddle playing but is equally adept at the pipes. I know she was anchoring a session is Sligo a few years back but I'm not sure if she is still at it.
Louise Mulchahy won the Senior All Ireland some years ago in Listowel - I was there and she played great stuff.
The piper Danny mentioned is an on-off contributor to thesession.org! She passed through London on her way back to Uni "oop North" last Wednesday and joined us for a few Tunes in the Adelaide. She's handy alright; when she told me how long she'd been playing I couldn't believe it.
Another great young piper is Catherine Burke, probably known more as a whistle player. She lives somewhere on the South coast of England and you'll see her at many folk festivals in this neck of the woods.
One girl who I was very impressed with was a young lady called Jeanette Lambert from Aughrim Co. Wicklow. Met her at Miltown one year and she was mightily impressive. Haven't seen her since - anyone know if she is still playing?
Clive and Lucy Delapp, still about in Cambridge. Clive doesn't play any more due to RSI or something similar (i'm not exactly sure). Lucy isn't out all that much due to the kiddy..
Lucy is a great piper, she did teach Grace for a while, not sure if she still does- i'm not sure Grace needs many lessons...
Also a good fiddle player, good fun in a session
sclery - say hi to clive and lucy when you see them - I stay with them years ago in Cambridge - and I met them cause they were in sydney for about 3 months a long time ago.
To date. Female pipers (uilleann) are to be found mostly in the States and England. In Ireland they are seen in pipers clubs, and in competition.
A few have been seen at sessions, but just a few. I suspect KML is closest to the truth. There must be some ancient unwritten law that "girls don't play pipes", much the same as "girls don't drive buses, fight in wars, run marathons etc" I can remember when 1,500 was introduced for women, not that long ago.
I suspect the rest of the world has caught up with the 21st Century, but not ITM in regard to female pipers.
Apart from the good old US of A, who as we all know is the land of the free, and home of the brave.
I forgot that there was a lady in Cork that played at a session in Charlies', next to the Lobby bar when I was there in 2004. She played a half set. Eoin O'Riabhaigh was playing as well.
I think the 1500M for women was introduced as an Olympic event in 1972 in Munich. But if you mean 3000M that was Los Angeles 1984.....I think the marathon then as well. Benoit or Grete Waitz
I think the Ladies probably know better. Who wants to play a tempermental, out of tune, pressure intensive, physically and aurally painful machine thats nearly impossible to find a decent one of, for love or money?
They are expensive, the learning curve is very slow on them musically compared to other instruments, and most people will listen to even very good pipers and think they dont know what they are doing, and are out of tune to boot!
And Reedmaking is a critical aspect, and what woman wants to cut cane in all thier spare time?
Anne Packer won the 800 metres in 1968, but didn't play pipes. I remember that KLM. Her husband was third in the 400 hurdles, their son played for Man City, and could play "blue moon" on the pipes.
Yes KLM, I am that old. And still haven't seen a female piper.
Her husband won a relay silver. John Sherwood was third in 1968, someone called Hemmery won and the commentator (British, David Coleman) memorably said "it doesn't matter who is third".
What has this got to do with female pipers? Well it does illustrate two things. Things have changed in most things for women, and I have been at sessions for 40 years, and still not seen a female piper.
how come bliss - you live in Ireland youre whole life but have never seen an woman play the pipes and I lived in Ireland for a few years and have seen a number of women play the pipes? Do you travel to other sessions much or just stick to the same one? That might be one reason.
If I follow bliss's logic, even though there are numerous examples in the above posts of female pipers in ireland, because bliss hasn't seen them, they must not exist. or something.
Actually.....I read somewhere that one of the main reasons that girls do better in all girl schools is that they aren't worrying about looking too clever in front of the boys. Maybe it's the same with female pipers (or backing guitarists)...
And there's the difference in approach to learning and being confident.....
When I was learning the mandolin, a good friend who is a male guitar teacher commented that 'you play like a girl'.....then explaining that he thought my touch was too light, my attack not aggressive, and it annoyed him that I didn't jump in at every opportunity, but wanted to know how to really play something before joining in (I didn't want to noodle....only play what I knew I could).
My male mando teacher rolled his eyes when I told him and said "and then he'll wonder why there's not many female mandolinists around?"
Dear Sir Nose, did I even suggest that female pipers do not exist?
Somehow I do not think so. If you must speak for others, learn how to read first.
I have travelled near and far bb, but have never seen a female piper. In COMPARISON to other instruments, this is an oddity.
I still believe that someone, somewhere, must have decided that "pipes are not for girls, let them play something less complicated". In Ireland, what else would you expect.
I've never been to Ireland, Scotland, or Galicia, but I saw a female piper playing on the beach in Oregon.
Curvy, I've read the same about boys learning better in all boy schools. I do know I often find it easier to teach guitar to female students. (I'm male) More often than not they seem to show up ready to learn.
Of COURSE i didn't mean you *actually* believe they don't exist! I was being stupidly exageratory (which, regardless of my reading ability, i'm pretty sure isn't a word), it just seems that all these examples of female Irish pipers isn't making much difference to your central thrust... And that maybe, just maybe, the distinct lack of female pipers throughout ireland might actually just be your particular subjective experience.
Not that I want to align myself with bodhran supporters, but bodhran bliss does have a point. It has been well demonstrated by other posters that there are a few female pipers around. Nevertheless it remains true that whereas female fiddlers, whistlers, fluters, box-players and guitarists are far from uncommon, female pipers really are. In my years in Ireland I saw one - and she was on television. Though I cannot claim to have travelled far and wide - every session I ever went to there was in the far south-west.
Mind you, I saw very few female bodhran players either, but that is probably another can of worms.
hmmm, that is interesting, because i have to say that while I have seen many, many female bodhran players in my time, i can honestly say i've only ever seen one female guitarist, and that is here in Australia. but in my (admittedly very subjective) opinion i can say i saw more female pipers in Ireland than female banjo or box players.
I would have thought that pipers (uileann) were rare enough on the ground full stop. That is, compared to other popular ITM instruments. So if you only have a small pool of pipers .. less chance of meeting a female piper. Well, it's sort of a half baked theory.
What about the humble Mouth Organ? I know they are very rare in this music anyway, but I know of no female tune players on this humble yet mighty instrument. Anybody?
Ah, Bliss, David Coleman of the famous Colemanballs. Yes, he was a class athlete in his day. We have a Michael Coleman down here in Kent who is our top runner. Won the county XC recently (I had a terrible race - the worst ever - I should have dropped out but I have this thing about not dropping out) http://www.kcaa.org.uk/resultsjan07.htm
I know personally know three female pipers and two male pipers, so I guess I'm just lucky! I've encountered only two mouth organ players in sessions, both of whom were male.
I had an ex who used to fart out tunes....and then light said farts.....can't say I've seen any women go down that path....but I have since come across at least two other male fart lighters since hanging around folk festivals............
Female banjo players used to be a rarity, but that has been addressed in recent years. I have seen a number of female box players, and recently saw two female bodhran players at the same session. But that is only my experience.
And Dear Sir Nose, your "Uriah Heap" impersonation fails to fool a grumpy old git like myself.-
Female guitarists accompanying tunes is also a rarity, but then we all know that backers do not count.
No, I still put it down to some form of sexism, hopefully being rectified.
I know some nice harp players who are women here - they have huge get togethers -(Harp sessions if you like) on the north shore theres got to be around 30 of them, mostly women.
There are two photos of Leo Rowsome's pupils taken in 1950 and 1951 that appear in The Leo Rowsome Collection of Irish Music. Betty Nevin appears in both photos among all the boys (including Paddy Moloney).
A few years back, I met a piper named Lucinda Cook, who was living in Dingle and playing sessions in the area. In the Albany New York area, Kara Doyle is a fine piper.
I just returned from two weeks in Ireland and didn't hear any pipers at any of the nine sessions I attended. I think the only one I've heard there in the past four years (two weeks each year) was Peter Laban.
We have two young women pipers in our sessions on a 'sort of' regular basis - Roisin and Vivian [who was the aforementioned piper at our session in Maghera a couple of weeks ago.]
Probably aslo worth pointing out that there aren't that many MALE pipers! They're nearly as scarce as hens' teeth in our part of the world!
Darragh Murphy and Stevie Porter spend most of their time playing in Belfast and beyond, while Michael Horgan is now based in Brussels! Danny McGreevey hasn't been seen in yonks!
Things must have changed inn Savages, Maghera and whereever else is on your monthly list, Breandan. There were no pipers the nights I was down that way. As I said, two pipers in N.Ireland at sessions, female, any more?
Pipers: The last male bastion?
Pipers: The last male bastion?
This arose the other night , in a discussion about equality.
Has anyone seen a female piper? I know I haven't, in some nearly 40 years. Is piping the last male bastion?
I know females were discouraged from saxaphones and the like years ago, but that has gone now.
But pipers?
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
There's at least one.
http://www.beckytaylor.info/
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Tigermoth
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
and Vicky Swan:
http://www.smallpiper.co.uk/
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by patsy
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Well, don't forget Kathryn Tickell, the doyenne of the Northumbrian pipes - http://www.kathryntickell.com.
However, in terms of Irish music, women pipers are few and far between. The only one who springs to mind is Máire Ní Ghráda from Cork who plays a couple of tracks on the Mulligan album 'The Piper's Rock' (LUNCD 023), released in 1978. She was in her late teens at the time, but I'm unable to report what she's up to nowadays.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by MacCruiskeen
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Bliss, I remember seeing two sisters playing Harp & Uilleann Pipes with Nollaig Casey way back in the late 1970's at a festival party in London. Sorry I don't remember their names but I do remember that they played brilliantly & I can still hear Frankie Gavin whooping encouragement.
At that party I also heard a very young John Carty play Banjo for the first time & boy did he knock the crowd for six with his solo set! Must have been scarey enough for him, what with Barney McKenna & Charlie Piggott in the crowd!
Of course in Northumbrian Piping circles you have Kathryn Tickell & Pauline Cato to name but two.
There are also loads of ladies who play the Highland Bagpipes.
Guess you'll have to look elsewhere Bliss for your "last male bastion"!
Comb & paper maybe?
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
There was a young woman who used to live in New England 7 or 8 years ago named Bonnie Dixon. Who had quite fair chops on both Great pipes and various small pipes, I don't believe she played uillen pipes though.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by fife
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Good man Geoff! Yes indeed, of course, it was Máire Ní Ghráda who played at that party.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
There was a young lady playing some great stuff on the pipes in the Maghera Inn, Co. Down last Friday, one of two young lady pipers that I have recently noticed.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by proinsiasrua
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Grace Lemon, Cambridge- plays pipes, won the U12 All Ireland twice, I think, as well as the slow airs.
She's very good, and still only about 13. By very good, i mean, seriously good, better than most people will ever get.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Sean Clery
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
The 1st two to come to mind for me are Clare piper, Marion McCarthy, and Debbie Quigley from Toronto. Both are exteremly gifted pipers.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by RogueFiddler
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Máire Ní Ghráda was playing in the states last year at the East Coast and at the West Coast Tionols. Love her version of Stoney Steps.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by RogueFiddler
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I wasn't there, but the Chris Langan Weekend webpage lists a
"Máire Ní Grada" as an instructor last year.
Of course there's Debbie Quigley from Toronto....
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Sol Foster
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
There are exceptions to every rule. But seriously, why so few?
Are ladies/girls discouraged by sexist teachers or what? I am talking uilleann pipes here, by the way.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Máire Ní Grada was at our west coast tionol in 2005 and is a great piper. I'd love to hear a CD from her.Then there is Feadogin on C&F, and Nicola and Meridith in California. I see someone mentioned Marion McCarthy as well (also at the West Coast Tionol in 2006)
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by I_Fel
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Hi Bodhran Bliss ,to answer your question "has anyone seen a female piper",I can report that 6 of these mermaid -like creatures competed in under 12 all -Ireland competitions at Letterkenny last August, 2 in the 12-15 section 4 in the 15-18 section and 2 in the senior competition.That make 14 sightings ,at least in letterkenny this year!
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by cos
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I don't know her name apart from Emily, but a young North American woman (ie I don't whether she was USAian Canadian) turned up at a recent session organised by Aidan ( I thought it was meant to be relatively clandestine to keep aforementioned wasters away, but he thanked attendants on here on this thread:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/11986/comments#comment244269 )and she was very useful. That said that's the only time I can recall seeing a female U-piper. Yes I think it is a rarity, but I don't know why. Desi Black reckons it is because the pipes are a physically demanding instrument. But women run marathons , climb Everest, even give birth to babies! -so I don't go along with that one nowadays. I wonder why though. Most likely some kind of tradition, but I suspect also a male "geekish" obsessive temperament might be a useful attribute. Please forgive any sexist allusions here. I don't mean that to be the case. Good thread, though, BB.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Well, I believe Louise Mulcahy won an All-Ireland championship on the pipes one year but not sure what age group. The Mulcahy family will be coming to the Catskills this summer for the Catskills Irish Arts Week for the first time.
At the East Coast Tionol there were several female pipers including the organizer Susanne Ward.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by clareman
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Not only do we have the excellent uilleann piper, Debbie Quigley, in Toronto, but alsoliving in Toronto is Kelly Hood, who plays uilleann pipes, is an excellent highland piper and scottish small piper as well. In Guelph we have Margaret Stalker, who has quite the arsenal of pipes--- scottish smallpipes In D and A, northumbrian pipes and uilleann pipes......And last but not least, uilleann piper Janice Crewe who is formerly from Toronto area (not sure where she lives now)...And I'm sure there's scads more excellent female pipers out there!
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by aoife
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
There's a female piper called Lynne at one of my sessions. She also plays flute and a number of stringed things though - not just pipes. I also new a piper called Lucy when in Cambridge but I don't know if she's still there or not. I think she taught Grace Lemon for a bit.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by SineadE
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Lucy ! - I forgot she played pipes - yeah, she used to live in SE London. Was known more as a fiddle player then (maybe 7-10 years ago?) and a brilliant fiddler she was too. Glad to hear she is now "thought of" as a piper also, and no doubt has become well accomplished in that sphere.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Hey Danny is that Lucy and is Clive and Lucy that now live in Cambridge? If so then she is a lovely piper.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bb
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I just noticed Sineads post - it must be the same....they had a son I know that - but I havent heard from them in years.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bb
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Clareman is right. Louise Mulcahy was the first name that sprang to my mind.
If there are any, among those who go to the Catskills festival this summer, who haven´t heard the Mulcahy family, then they´re in for a very nice surprise.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by murfbox
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Yes, it is "Clive and Lucy" that I'm thinking of. I didn't even know she played fiddle!
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by SineadE
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I haven't seen or talked to her in quite a while, but Fiona Docherty who lives in Charlestown, Mayo is a very talented piper who has also taught pipes and used to run a piper's group here in the states when she lived here. She is known more for her fiddle playing but is equally adept at the pipes. I know she was anchoring a session is Sligo a few years back but I'm not sure if she is still at it.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by moria enya
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Louise Mulchahy won the Senior All Ireland some years ago in Listowel - I was there and she played great stuff.
The piper Danny mentioned is an on-off contributor to thesession.org! She passed through London on her way back to Uni "oop North" last Wednesday and joined us for a few Tunes in the Adelaide. She's handy alright; when she told me how long she'd been playing I couldn't believe it.
Another great young piper is Catherine Burke, probably known more as a whistle player. She lives somewhere on the South coast of England and you'll see her at many folk festivals in this neck of the woods.
One girl who I was very impressed with was a young lady called Jeanette Lambert from Aughrim Co. Wicklow. Met her at Miltown one year and she was mightily impressive. Haven't seen her since - anyone know if she is still playing?
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Just remembered - 2001 was when Louise M won the All Ireland.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Associated with Armagh Pipers' Club:
Sinead Lennon
Claire Byrne
Vivian Murphy
all of whom are accomplished players.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Feargal French
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Clive and Lucy Delapp, still about in Cambridge. Clive doesn't play any more due to RSI or something similar (i'm not exactly sure). Lucy isn't out all that much due to the kiddy..
Lucy is a great piper, she did teach Grace for a while, not sure if she still does- i'm not sure Grace needs many lessons...
Also a good fiddle player, good fun in a session
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Sean Clery
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
sclery - say hi to clive and lucy when you see them - I stay with them years ago in Cambridge - and I met them cause they were in sydney for about 3 months a long time ago.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bb
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
To date. Female pipers (uilleann) are to be found mostly in the States and England. In Ireland they are seen in pipers clubs, and in competition.
A few have been seen at sessions, but just a few. I suspect KML is closest to the truth. There must be some ancient unwritten law that "girls don't play pipes", much the same as "girls don't drive buses, fight in wars, run marathons etc" I can remember when 1,500 was introduced for women, not that long ago.
I suspect the rest of the world has caught up with the 21st Century, but not ITM in regard to female pipers.
Apart from the good old US of A, who as we all know is the land of the free, and home of the brave.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I forgot that there was a lady in Cork that played at a session in Charlies', next to the Lobby bar when I was there in 2004. She played a half set. Eoin O'Riabhaigh was playing as well.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by I_Fel
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Eh? Bliss, you sure?
I think the 1500M for women was introduced as an Olympic event in 1972 in Munich. But if you mean 3000M that was Los Angeles 1984.....I think the marathon then as well. Benoit or Grete Waitz
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I think the Ladies probably know better. Who wants to play a tempermental, out of tune, pressure intensive, physically and aurally painful machine thats nearly impossible to find a decent one of, for love or money?
They are expensive, the learning curve is very slow on them musically compared to other instruments, and most people will listen to even very good pipers and think they dont know what they are doing, and are out of tune to boot!
And Reedmaking is a critical aspect, and what woman wants to cut cane in all thier spare time?
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by another_piper
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I've always been struck by the distinct lack of female guitar backers....
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by SirNose
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Anne Packer won the 800 metres in 1968, but didn't play pipes. I remember that KLM. Her husband was third in the 400 hurdles, their son played for Man City, and could play "blue moon" on the pipes.
Yes KLM, I am that old. And still haven't seen a female piper.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Even older, it was 1964 that she won.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Her husband won a relay silver. John Sherwood was third in 1968, someone called Hemmery won and the commentator (British, David Coleman) memorably said "it doesn't matter who is third".
What has this got to do with female pipers? Well it does illustrate two things. Things have changed in most things for women, and I have been at sessions for 40 years, and still not seen a female piper.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
riiiiiiiight.....
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by SirNose
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
how come bliss - you live in Ireland youre whole life but have never seen an woman play the pipes and I lived in Ireland for a few years and have seen a number of women play the pipes? Do you travel to other sessions much or just stick to the same one? That might be one reason.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bb
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
If I follow bliss's logic, even though there are numerous examples in the above posts of female pipers in ireland, because bliss hasn't seen them, they must not exist. or something.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by SirNose
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Actually.....I read somewhere that one of the main reasons that girls do better in all girl schools is that they aren't worrying about looking too clever in front of the boys. Maybe it's the same with female pipers (or backing guitarists)...
And there's the difference in approach to learning and being confident.....
When I was learning the mandolin, a good friend who is a male guitar teacher commented that 'you play like a girl'.....then explaining that he thought my touch was too light, my attack not aggressive, and it annoyed him that I didn't jump in at every opportunity, but wanted to know how to really play something before joining in (I didn't want to noodle....only play what I knew I could).
My male mando teacher rolled his eyes when I told him and said "and then he'll wonder why there's not many female mandolinists around?"
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by FiddleFancy
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Dear Sir Nose, did I even suggest that female pipers do not exist?
Somehow I do not think so. If you must speak for others, learn how to read first.
I have travelled near and far bb, but have never seen a female piper. In COMPARISON to other instruments, this is an oddity.
I still believe that someone, somewhere, must have decided that "pipes are not for girls, let them play something less complicated". In Ireland, what else would you expect.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I just find it strage is all - especially if you have travelled near and far. When you travel do you go into sessions?
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bb
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I've never been to Ireland, Scotland, or Galicia, but I saw a female piper playing on the beach in Oregon.
Curvy, I've read the same about boys learning better in all boy schools. I do know I often find it easier to teach guitar to female students. (I'm male) More often than not they seem to show up ready to learn.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Snakefingers
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Of COURSE i didn't mean you *actually* believe they don't exist! I was being stupidly exageratory (which, regardless of my reading ability, i'm pretty sure isn't a word), it just seems that all these examples of female Irish pipers isn't making much difference to your central thrust... And that maybe, just maybe, the distinct lack of female pipers throughout ireland might actually just be your particular subjective experience.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by SirNose
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Not that I want to align myself with bodhran supporters, but bodhran bliss does have a point. It has been well demonstrated by other posters that there are a few female pipers around. Nevertheless it remains true that whereas female fiddlers, whistlers, fluters, box-players and guitarists are far from uncommon, female pipers really are. In my years in Ireland I saw one - and she was on television. Though I cannot claim to have travelled far and wide - every session I ever went to there was in the far south-west.
Mind you, I saw very few female bodhran players either, but that is probably another can of worms.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Alex Wilding
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
hmmm, that is interesting, because i have to say that while I have seen many, many female bodhran players in my time, i can honestly say i've only ever seen one female guitarist, and that is here in Australia. but in my (admittedly very subjective) opinion i can say i saw more female pipers in Ireland than female banjo or box players.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by SirNose
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Ummm, Emer Mayock?
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by kkrell
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
kkrell - you just beat me to it. Emer is a great piper...
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by ceoltoir2010
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I would have thought that pipers (uileann) were rare enough on the ground full stop. That is, compared to other popular ITM instruments. So if you only have a small pool of pipers .. less chance of meeting a female piper. Well, it's sort of a half baked theory.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by the wounded hussar
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
You could just as easily say that female sessioners are far less common than male ones - of course that would be the proverbial can of worms
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by ceoltoir2010
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
What about the humble Mouth Organ? I know they are very rare in this music anyway, but I know of no female tune players on this humble yet mighty instrument. Anybody?
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by woops
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Ah, Bliss, David Coleman of the famous Colemanballs. Yes, he was a class athlete in his day. We have a Michael Coleman down here in Kent who is our top runner. Won the county XC recently (I had a terrible race - the worst ever - I should have dropped out but I have this thing about not dropping out)
http://www.kcaa.org.uk/resultsjan07.htm
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I know personally know three female pipers and two male pipers, so I guess I'm just lucky! I've encountered only two mouth organ players in sessions, both of whom were male.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by SineadE
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I had an ex who used to fart out tunes....and then light said farts.....can't say I've seen any women go down that path....but I have since come across at least two other male fart lighters since hanging around folk festivals............
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by FiddleFancy
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Claire Byrne anybody ?
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Patkiwi
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Whoops, just spotted the previous mention.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Patkiwi
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Female banjo players used to be a rarity, but that has been addressed in recent years. I have seen a number of female box players, and recently saw two female bodhran players at the same session. But that is only my experience.
And Dear Sir Nose, your "Uriah Heap" impersonation fails to fool a grumpy old git like myself.-
Female guitarists accompanying tunes is also a rarity, but then we all know that backers do not count.
No, I still put it down to some form of sexism, hopefully being rectified.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Looky here:
http://www.irishfolk.at/home
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Bleedin' Heart
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
They were always a lot more enlightened in Germany compared to Ireland.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I only know one female piper personally ... .
Around here the sessions *seem* to be 50/50 male/female overall. Women seem to play fiddle and flute a lot, not many guitarists or . . . pipers.
But plenty of lady goatwhackers.
I want to know why so few men play harp.
# Posted on January 16th 2007 by wormdiet
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
The few Milltown classes ive taken, ive seen approx 8:2 male:female pipers. So they are out there!
I agree with above post... Wheres the male harpists then??
# Posted on January 16th 2007 by flanum
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I'm a female piper-in-learning!!
haha.
# Posted on January 17th 2007 by Schapiro
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Dunno - might be a regional thing, but in Oz all the best known harp players are men!....and half of them run instrument making workshops too!
# Posted on January 17th 2007 by FiddleFancy
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I know some nice harp players who are women here - they have huge get togethers -(Harp sessions if you like) on the north shore theres got to be around 30 of them, mostly women.
# Posted on January 17th 2007 by bb
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
There are two photos of Leo Rowsome's pupils taken in 1950 and 1951 that appear in The Leo Rowsome Collection of Irish Music. Betty Nevin appears in both photos among all the boys (including Paddy Moloney).
A few years back, I met a piper named Lucinda Cook, who was living in Dingle and playing sessions in the area. In the Albany New York area, Kara Doyle is a fine piper.
I just returned from two weeks in Ireland and didn't hear any pipers at any of the nine sessions I attended. I think the only one I've heard there in the past four years (two weeks each year) was Peter Laban.
# Posted on January 17th 2007 by GaryAMartin
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
We have two young women pipers in our sessions on a 'sort of' regular basis - Roisin and Vivian [who was the aforementioned piper at our session in Maghera a couple of weeks ago.]
You need to get out more Bliss
# Posted on January 17th 2007 by breandan
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Probably aslo worth pointing out that there aren't that many MALE pipers! They're nearly as scarce as hens' teeth in our part of the world!
Darragh Murphy and Stevie Porter spend most of their time playing in Belfast and beyond, while Michael Horgan is now based in Brussels! Danny McGreevey hasn't been seen in yonks!
# Posted on January 17th 2007 by breandan
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Used to be that female concertina players far out-numbered their male counterparts, but I think that's changing a lot too.
Any female bouzouki players? Can't think of any...
# Posted on January 17th 2007 by ceoltoir2010
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
I know two female bouzouki players... one of them also being one of the good female pipers I mentioned earlier in the thread.
# Posted on January 17th 2007 by SineadE
Re: Pipers: The last male bastion?
Things must have changed inn Savages, Maghera and whereever else is on your monthly list, Breandan. There were no pipers the nights I was down that way. As I said, two pipers in N.Ireland at sessions, female, any more?
# Posted on January 18th 2007 by bodhran bliss