Heather Clarke's Tutor..

[Cathy Wilde]

She's the one who got me hooked.

Love that photo of Siobhan, too!

P.S. Wee brag ... my sweetheart took that picture of Louise at this year's Northeast Tionol.

[bensdad]

If we're naming names then KAD modestly forget to mention one Kara Doyle. Faaabulous.

[Cathy Wilde]

[TheSilverSpear]

My plan to become a recluse is working....

[rorybbellows]

Well, we all hope you change your plan.

RORY

[john]

i'm sure i saw some footage on youtube of heather playing with the guy who makes ceol pipes in achill but i've just looked and can't find it

[Cathy Wilde]

My plan to become a recluse is working....

I think you should call that a "dark horse strategy." Kind of a stealth thing. Me, I'm going to be the pipe lady. Sort of like the cat lady only with lots of squalling, mangy pipes hanging around and creeping people out.

[john]

http://ceolpipes.com/audio-video

[TheSilverSpear]

My plan to become a recluse is working....

I think you should call that a "dark horse strategy." Kind of a stealth thing. Me, I'm going to be the pipe lady. Sort of like the cat lady only with lots of squalling, mangy pipes hanging around and creeping people out.

If only the humane societies and animal shelters of the world were full to capacity of unwanted sets of uilleann pipes, yowling and squeaking in cages, in desperate need of good homes..... Awww.... that sad, cute, little K&Q B set really needs me....

Then I could easily be the crazy pipe lady as well.

[Brennen Fitzgerald]

My plan to become a recluse is working....

I think you should call that a "dark horse strategy." Kind of a stealth thing. Me, I'm going to be the pipe lady. Sort of like the cat lady only with lots of squalling, mangy pipes hanging around and creeping people out.

If only the humane societies and animal shelters of the world were full to capacity of unwanted sets of uilleann pipes, yowling and squeaking in cages, in desperate need of good homes..... Awww.... that sad, cute, little K&Q B set really needs me....

Then I could easily be the crazy pipe lady as well.

The mange on the bags could be dreadful, and are pipers housebroken?

[PhilD]

I have a question sort of on topic.
On the front of 2008 addition of Heather Clarke's piping book there is cover pictured of a chanter with an unusual looking foot arrangement. Can anyone shed any light on what this is?

Picture link below

http://www.sonerien.com/303-1906-thickb ... proach.jpg

[an seanduine]

Appears to be a 'popping valve'. An alternative to the ubiquitous 'piper's apron or popping strap'.


Bob

[MichaelLoos]

If I'm not very much mistaken, the hands in the picture are Tomás Ó Canainn's, holding a Kennedy chanter (with popping valve) attached to a set of Crowley pipes.

[PhilD]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm left with a new question though.
Why a popping valve? When a bit of old leather on your leg is much simpler. Does a valve allow you to do anything different?

[an seanduine]

It's one of those pieces of kit that can be very problematic for some makers to successfully manufacture. They can be like stop-keys for chanter tops. . .fragile, finicky and prone to breakdown and maladjustment. That said, some makers, and some designs are quite successful, robust and maintainable. Kennedy made good, strong designs. I am told Rowsome made some, but I haven't seen one in person.
Denis Brooks has one on his Kennedy chanter, and employs it to good effect for óff-the-knee passages. The Kennedy, and the Taylor designs I have seen allow adjustment of how open the valve falls, and allows some control of the quality of bottom notes.With a popping strap you have to adjust how ópen' the chanter is when you lift it on the fly. Some prefer that. Others not. YMMV.

Bob