BC Uilleann Pipers' Society

History of the Uilleann Pipes in BC

The history of the uilleann pipes in British Columbia, prior to the 1960's is unknown. The first known set of pipes in the area appeared in the late 1960's, although there are undoubtedly pipers and sets prior to this. If you have any information on any noteworthy uilleann piping event, please let us know.

A basic timeline for the history of the uilleann pipes in BC is below:

Late 1960s - Ian Walker purchases a practice set from Leo Rowsome. This is one of Leo's later sets and There are the usual reed problems and the set sits mostly unplayed (and unknown) until 2003. The set is then sold on eBay by his son to a piper in southern California for a price of US$2025. Once the chanter was reeded properly again, it has turned out to be an excellent chanter with great tone. *UPDATE* This set has been stolen (along with a number of other pipes) from the purchaser in California. Hopefully a chanter of this quality can be returned to the rightful owner soon.

Early 1970s - 1980s - Alan Finn of North Vancouver makes a number of practice sets - some of them based on the Garvin book. Alan was a member of the band Sons of Erin which performed in the trad/folk idiom. They recorded one live album in at the Blarney Stone in Vancouver. This album, includes a recording of Alan playing his set. An MP3 of the recording may be found here.

Mid 1970s

John Walsh moves to Vancouver and brings his Taylor set.
Tomás Standeven moves to the west coast and brings with him a number of old sets including sets made by Anderson, Taylor and Coyne. Tomás establishes himself with the local Irish music community and teaches a number of students pipes, fiddle, flute and whistle. He also passes some sets on to a deserving few.
Tom Creegan of Dublin moves to Vancouver and brings his Leo Rowsome set with him. He then moves to Seattle later.

1981/82

Rob Moore makes his first set of pipes based on the Wilbert Garvin book. They sit mostly unplayed for 15 years.
Robert Common purchases a full set pitched in C from Eugene Lambe of Galway. Reed difficulties make the set difficult to play and it sits for the next 15 odd years.

1985 - Christy O'Leary plays with the Boys of the Lough at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.

1989 - Tim Britton plays a concert for the Rogue Folk Club in Vancouver.

1990 - 1995

Bill Poppy, Eric Reiswig, Tim Fanning, Greg Schnider, Tom Kinahan and Robin Thistle-Walker all obtain sets.
John Walsh purchases a Leo Rowsome full set from .

1996

January - Martin Nolan performs a series of concerts in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.
November - Liam O'Flynn plays a concert for the Rogue Folk Club in Vancouver

1998

January - John O'Brien plays with the Riverdance show for 9 weeks in Vancouver.
April - Gathering of pipers in BC at the Island Celtic Festival on Hornby Island (Rob Moore, Wally Charm, Bill Poppy, Eric Reiswig, Greg Schnider and Tony McKim attend). This meeting provided the initial idea for a uilleann pipers' club in BC.

1999

September - Uilleann Pipers' Club of British Columbia - formed at the inaugural meeting on September 25 in Langley. Greg Schnider was the main organizer of this event.

2000

January - Martin Nolan plays a number of concerts on Vancouver Island and presents a workshop to BCUPS members in Cobble Hill.
February - Reed making workshop in Cobble Hill.
February - Lunasa with piper Cillian Vallely performs in North Vancouver at Capilano College presented by the Rogue Folk Club..
March - Two practice sets are donated by Rob Moore to BCUPS to establish a pipes-for-loan program.
March - Spring Meeting of BCUPS in Cobble Hill.
July - Danú with piper Donnchadh Gough plays at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival
August - First "Swarm of Drones". Phil White of Seattle teaches.
October - Fall meeting of BCUPS in Langley.
November - Paddy Keenan plays a concert for the Rogue Folk Club at Culpeppers.

2001

March - Craobh Rua with piper Diarmaid Moynihan plays a concert for the Rogue Folk Club at St. James Hall.
July - Lunasa with piper Cillian Vallely plays at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.

2002

January - Tomás Standeven passes away in Delaware after losing a battle with cancer. He is buried near his parents plot in the Philadelphia area.
March - Spring Meeting of BCUPS at Rob Moore's house in Cobble Hill.

2003

March - Spring Meeting of BCUPS at Rob Moore's house in Cobble Hill. The club hosts piper Eoin Dugian for a workshop and concert during the first weekend long meeting. David Daye also presents a reedmaking workshop.
March - Lunasa with piper Cillian Valleley performs in Vancouver at the Festival Du Bois and for the Rogue Folk club at the Croatian Cultural Centre.
April - Craobh Rua with piper
May - Danú with piper Donnchadh Gough plays a concert for the Rogue Folk Club.
August - Lunasa, with piper Cillian Valleley performs in Salmon Arm at the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival.

2004

September - Riverdance with piper Declan Masterson plays a number of shows at The Center in Vaocouver.
October - Martin Nolan plays a series of concerts in BC and Alberta with Wil Millar.
October - BCUPS presents Martin in a workshop and solo house concert in Cobble Hill.

Email: bc_ups@hotmail.com