www.wkpf.org

An exciting new Armagh group composed of members of the All – Ireland Championship winning Grade 2 Killeen Pipe Band and Armagh Pipers Club made its debut on Saturday 31st July at a reception hosted by Belfast City Council in the Europa Hotel on the occasion of the European Pipe Band Championships held at Stormont.

The group ‘Canntaireachd’ is composed of members of the Killeen Pipe Band and the Armagh Pipers Club and brings together highland pipes and uilleann pipes in a unique combination. This has been made possible by the use of specially commissioned highland pipes made to
an 18th Century design by pipe-maker Hamish Moore. The pipers are joined by Alana Henderson who sings ‘Canntaireachd’ and ‘Puirt a Beul’ while accompanying herself on cello. The Highland pipers are Stephen Wilson and Aaron Coulter from the Grade 2 All Ireland
Champions Killeen Pipe Band and the uilleann pipers are Conor Mallon and Conor Lavelle from the Armagh Pipers Club. Stephen Paynter All-Ireland Champion drummer is also from the Killeen Pipe Band while Alana Henderson is from the Armagh Pipers Club.

This unique project has been funded by the Armagh City & District Good Relations Fund and the Community Relations Council of Northern Ireland. The group mentors are Pipe Major Derek Boyce of the Killeen Pipe Band, Tiarnan Ó Duinnchinn of the Armagh Pipers Club and Eithne Vallely Director of Music for the Armagh Pipers Club. The concept of ‘Canntaireachd was the brainchild of Armagh Pipers Club development Officer Grainne Crothers.

The group travelled to Scotland to perform at ‘Piping Live’ the International Piping Festival which culminated in the World Pipe Band Championships on August 14th.They were invited to play in two concerts at ‘Gign the Bann’ on 4th & 5th September and finally they will have their official debut at the 17th William Kennedy Piping Festival when they play on Thursday 11th November in the Market Place Theatre in the ‘Piping Connections’ concert.

Tickets for this concert can be bought online through either the Armagh Pipers Club website www.wkpf.org or the Market Place Theatre
website. Tickets for all events at the 17th William Kennedy Piping Festival are now available for purchase online through both websites.
The www.wkpf.org website contains full details of the 17th William Kennedy Piping Festival which runs from Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th
November with an exciting programme of music from all over the world including new countries such as Greece, Croatia & Belgium.