Piping Links
- Na Piobairi Uilleann
- SWAUP
- South Downs Uilleann Pipers
- Burton and Wyatt
- Uilleann Obsession
- Mad for Trad
- NWUP
- The Session
- Kelleher Traditional
- Chiff and Fipple
- TradConnect
- The Hibernia Centre
- TradLessons.com
Other Links
Steve J. Turner, Uilleann Piper
Céad míle fáilte - Welcome to the Pipes of Ireland website. My fascination with the uilleann pipes started one evening back in 1992 when a friend played me an old recording of Finbar and Eddie Furey. I fell in love with the sound of the pipes, the energy and feeling contained within the music, and I vowed there and then that I had to learn more about this awesome instrument.
I eventually managed to obtain a practice set, which 
is
simply a chanter, a bag and bellows. Having studied music previously,
and being able to play the organ, and guitar, I thought that I would
soon be playing jigs and reels with the best of them, but I couldn't
have been more wrong. I smile when I think of the awful noises I made
initially, but I was so determined to play this instrument that I
struggled on and, with much effort, started to grasp the basics.
Early on in my piping career, I was fortunate to meet Nick Scott, of
'Last Nights Fun' fame and he put me in touch with The South Western
Association of Uilleann Pipers (SWAUP), a very friendly group, who meet
regularly in Somerset. It was through SWAUP, and their annual piping
weekends, that the horizons of my piping world were widened, and I had
the chance at last to sit at the feet of master pipers, observe their
technique, and receive constructive 
criticism
of my own playing. I was also fortunate to receive instruction in the
black art of reedmaking from master reedmaker and piper Alan Burton.
Now I am in the position to be able to keep my Froment full set of
Uilleann Pipes supplied with reeds of my own construction.
Eighteen years have now passed since I took my first faltering steps towards becoming a piper, and in that time I have learnt a thing or two about playing the pipes, their maintenance, reedmaking, performance and teaching. I am happy to help those who would like to learn how to play the pipes, need reeds or advice. I hope this website also caters to those who just enjoy listening to Irish traditional music played on the national instrument of Ireland.
I hope you enjoy this website, and thanks for visiting.
Sláinte