Bagpiping in Ireland

Yes, bagpipes are every bit as Irish as they are Scottish. In fact, bagpipes range roughly from north Africa, through the Middle East, right the way up to Scandinavia!

The antiquity of the Irish bagpipes is unquestionable. They are referred to in Brehon law as far back as the 5th century.

It is amongst the musical instruments mentioned at the fair of Carman in the 8th century "pipes, fiddles, chainmen, bone-men, and tube players."

For some reason, from the 1200s, the Irish favoured the pipes for gatherings, marshal and joyous. No special occasion was complete, few battles were fought without the bagpipes to the fore. We have many contemporary illustrations of Irish 'warpipers, both as mercenaries in Europe, and on campaigns here and in Scotland. Some of which I have here. Up until the 1600s, the Gaelic Irish and Scottish were virtually indistinguishable. We shared the same language, religion, customs, costume, sports, and music.

In fact, many Scottish pipers came to Ireland to be trained in our schools of music. Crimmons--Mac Crimmons, was one of the most famous. I take great pride in the fact that I received my first lessons from the late Timmy Crimmons.

It was because of these distinctions, and the marshal rallying tradition of the pipes, that the English of the day saw ourselves and the Scots as 'barbarous' and so, the bagpipes were banned in Ireland. The battle of Kinsale Christmas Eve 1601, was the final crushing blow to Gaelic Ireland. The old order fell apart with the flight of the Earls. Basically everything Gaelic was outlawed and banned. Our great warpipes eventually evolved and became smaller, so we could still play them indoors. Bellows were added, and the uilleann pipes were born. The Scottish held on to the Gaelic ways fiercely for another 145 years after us. Eventually though, they too were finally beaten on Culloden moor in 1746. After a short ban, the pipes and kilts and tartans etc. were given back to the Scots--as long as they were used in the service of the crown. That's how people usually associate the whole thing with 'Scottishness'

Thankfully, times have changed, and a Gaelic revival has come back full circle.

The pipes and kilt are the closest modern versions of our old Gaelic attire. Note here, my images of the Irish Leine ( a skirted 'shirt' with pleats ) and the Brat (cloak) The same was worn in Scotland in the 1600s, and from these, the kilt developed.

It is with great pride I don my kilt, brat, and leine and play my pipes. Hopefully for you!