The Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina has secured the loan of 1916 Leader Eamonn Ceannt’s set of Uilleann Pipes for the Connacht Fleadh in Ballina which will take place from June 23rd – July 2nd.
His grand-niece Mary Gallagher will present a lecture on Eamonn Ceannt on June 28th in the Jackie Clarke Collection museum focusing on his Irish cultural legacy.
The set of Uilleann Pipes will be transported from the Curragh Camp Military Museum on June 28th, and put on display for the event.
Curator of the Jackie Clarke Collection Annie Marie Forbes says it’s a wonderful privilege for Ballina to get the pipes.
Born in Galway in 1881, Eamonn Ceannt was devoted to the Irish language, music and dance and in 1900 joined the Gaelic League. He became a fluent Irish speaker, began teaching Irish and changed his name to the Irish format.
He was also an accomplished musician and Uilleann Piper and won a gold medal at the Oireachtas na Gaeilge in 1906. He received a Papal blessing for his performance while in Rome with members of the Catholic Young Men’s Society, participating in an athletics competition to celebrate the jubilee of Pope Pius X in 1908.
He founded the Dublin Pipers Club in 1900 which sowed the seeds for the formation of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Na Piobairi Uilleann.
