There seems to be an exodus of Pipemakers leaving for foriegn climes - why - is life so bad in Eire and the UK ?
R.Sloan : France
A.Froment : France
B.Ring : France
G.Wooff : France
C.Roberts : Spain
Who’s next - should we run a sweepstake 
Would taxes play a part in this? Maybe climate as well? I wouldn’t know.
So now he’s a one-handed pipemaker? 
Interesting that only Charles Roberts has moved to Spain. Well, he only has Hevia for competition there!
I’ve read somewhere that the Union pipes originated in France before becoming popular in Ireland. I don’t know if this is true, but if it is so, it is fun to see more pipemakers in the land that they came from. 
i’ve heard rumours that froment and woofe were getting tired of random visitors coming into their workshops to meet them. workshops were becoming more like tourist attractions, so they’ve moved somewhere quiter to try and clear their order books?
i can’t in any way substantiate this, i’ve heard it from someone who heard it from someone else who claims the makers told him!!
vague, i know
If I win, does that mean I get to move to France?
Seriously, Alain clearly has a French “connection”, and Geoff moved for several reasons. I doubt the trickle of visitors was enough to drive him away!
Brendan has been in France for a long time, so if there’s an exodus, it’s a very slow one
Bill
Alain has returned home to Brittany. Soaring real estate prices in Ireland have allowed most of them to have great options for relocation.