One of the things that made I falled in love with UP’s was the ship tanker’s horn of Joe McKenna’s regs. 
He played in Galiza at Ortigueira celtic festival ( www.festivaldeortigueira.com ) in 70’s and let to our old brothers some vinyls that we still listen.
What do you think of that piper?
Joe McKenna was the first UPiper I ever heard live. I have always enjoyed his playing. I could live without his wife’s playing, but I guess he doesn’t have much option. It would be nice to hear a solo piping CD from him.
djm
I like very much the sound of his chanter. Do you know if the pipes that he plays are made by himself?
So, I think that he’s no very famous in the UP circles, maybe this is due his first records is on vinyl (the best works) and only few on cd? I consider him like a classic master piper… 
Well
if “Best of Joe & Antoinette McKenna” is the early record, its available on cd.
I really like his playing. and the harp is ok for me
carel
No, he has some LP record before this compilation.
I have two on vinyl: “At Home” (1980) and “Joe & Antoinette McKenna” (1978).
Furthermore I’ve on CD “The Best”, “Sean Nua” and “Magenta Music”! 
I think I’m correct in stating that Antoinette Mckenna is the sister of Mary Bergin the top notch whistle player.
If I’m wrong I’ll stand corrected.
Joseph (the UK one) 
quothe Carel:
I really like his playing. and the harp is ok for me
I’ve heard them play live a couple of times, and taken a workshop with Joe in the early days of the Philadelphia Ceili Festival (remember the farm in Lansdale?!?)
The amazing thing about his playing is he often sounds like he is pushing the very limits, just about to lose control; fast, wild piping. But he keeps perfect time with the accompaniment from the harp.
This sort of wild and woolly piping was something that Willie Clancy could do, too.
Yes!! It’s true!
for me JOE MCKENNA IS THE JOHN COLTRANE OF UILLEANN PIPES
A Love Supreme!! 
A Love Supremee!!
A Love Supremeeeee!!
That first set of reels on Magenta Music is very enjoyable.
Up And Away, The Doran Rug, The Fleadh Arms, Jack In The Box.
Not tunes you hear much elsewhere though.
David
you are right
what about his bas drone which seems to have a little angle?
Peyronie’s disease?
do you mean
Peyronie’s disease is characterized by the formation of hardened tissue (fibrosis) in the penis that causes pain, curvature, and distortion, usually during erection. ?
yup
oh
I heard Mc Kenna and JHugh in Finland 91 ( Magenta music) my first
live UP gig and with two pipers, it was amazing…
I was at a NPU Tionol at either Letterfrack or somewhere near to there about 1988 I think. Amongst the participants was Paddy Keenan, Ronan Browne, Robbie Hannon and Joe McKenna to name but a few. McKenna was in the back bar at one stage and I joined him in a couple of tunes. Well, attempted to anyway. He has super fluent fingers and I just could not keep up! Being the good sport that he his he asked me to play a couple of my tunes and he would join in. He was a perfect gentleman in so far as he didn’t make me look an idiot by speeding up what I was playing but instead he added charachter to the music plus regulators. I then put my pipes away and sat and listened to some excellent pipingHe probably will not remember the event but I certainly do and it made my evening.
BTW, I was playing a Matt Kiernan C# chanter and Joe McKenna was playing a C# full set that sounded very rich. One thing is for sure, he sounds as good playing ‘live music’ as he does playing ‘recorded music’.
Joseph (the UK one)
don’t need to stand- you’re correct. A very musical family. I saw Joe at McCabes Guitar Store in Santa Monica in 1978-1979??? can’t put the finger on the date. I went back and showed him my Kiernan chanter and my only reed. From wha t I remember I was in awe of his playing (still am..)
I have to pick up the other McKenna recordings. If they are half as impressive as the Sean Nua album, they’d be well worth it. Memory fails right now. Who was the other piper on The Open Door C.D.?
wow!
So, take a look at this old photo from a Leo Rowsome piping class (1964):
(Left to Right) 1. Thomas McKeon, 2. Joe McKenna, 3. Leo Rowsome, 4. Peter Browne, 5. Sean Hennessy
What a class!