… with a significant part of the filming taking place in Ireland (all of the battle scenes, IIRC), not to mention co-starring Brendan Gleeson.
I have to say in the east USA there was already an awareness of the instrument before the ‘big plunge’. All the eastcoast cities have huge Irish populations, both direct transplants and 1st generation, and plenty of cultural product (Ive always been able to get brown sauce, stout & malt vinegar, for instance). AND a fair amount of pipes sitting in attics…
Dont know about the rest of the US: but here it was more like a groundswell reaching a critical mass rather than the ‘big-bang’ Titan/River/Heart/Roy/Field/Waking Ned Divine theory…
Let’s just hope it keeps swelling, as Ive noticed a signifigant decline in the call for Uilleann lately…
perhaps the question we should be asking is “what more can we do to insure the pipes stay connected to the people???” 
Agus Liam Neeson Aka Rob Rory talking in his perfect Ulster brogue 
This seems to be a very American centred topic or it has drifted that way wot wi the Titanic and all "The Pride of Irish Shipbuilding"now in on the act.Of what possible use is this all to wee Rory?Wot do the folks in Tibet or Mongolia think of their new found exposure to the Pipes as revealed by you know whom??
Seems like the practice has taken a back seat…
Uilliam
What’s the fuss? They’re all Celtic* anyway, right? 
*pronounced with a soft c.
There’s one scene in Braveheart with highland pipes, I haven’t watched the movie in a while, but I believe it was during one of the first real battle scenes while the Scots were busy showing off their behinds. Falkirk? Also during the ‘games’ scene (actually I think it was a wedding reception type deal more I think of it) towards the beginning, sounds like smallpipes (?) were played.
I have the movie, and in the extra features, is a little clip were Mel claims the uilleann pipes were used because they were “more melodical” then the highland pipes to which I believe he said sound like screaming cats or such… I just thought it was rediculous how during William’s father’s funeral, they showed a guy playing highland pipes, while in fact uilleann pipes were playing… Haha, well lets not get started on the inaccuracies of Braveheart, I’ve seen that conversation turn into a real scrap in no time fast. So back to the topic at hand here…
There was a film called Dragon Slayer (IIRC) that also showed GHBs while the UPs were playing. 
**So back to the topic at hand here…
-Eric**
Which is of course Braveheart the movie
The ludicrous statue of Mel Gibson sorry Wallace at Stirling
And finally what I think of this thread
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam
To be strictly accurate, those vertical smiles would have to be Irish - the extras in the battle scenes in Braveheart were mostly members of the FCA - the Irish Army Reserves!!
I have the movie, and in the extra features, is a little clip were Mel claims the uilleann pipes were used because they were “more melodical” then the highland pipes
Of course as we all know, they also burn much sweeter on a bonfire 
There’s one bit in that filum that always cracks me up (I know, I know I’m just a big soft girl ), just near the end a few seconds before they’re going to chop his head off.
He sees his dead wife in the audience and just for one note the pipes clear the orchestra they’re being drowned by. 
Djimbo.
Good one Uilliam,are they taking part in the Glasgee gay pride parade,and decided to send out some invitations
RORY
I think many of the top players would dispute this and much would depend on what you mean by golden age. At best I would say the instrument is having a very successful revival. Sure we have a greater proliferation of the instrument and more people playing it but quantity doesn’t necessarily equate to quality. Moreover the styles are becoming more homogeneous and less varied nowadays with structured teaching/playing methods and the “star effect” of the popularisation of a small number of individuals. Stylistically there doesn’t seem to have been major developments in the playing of the instrument since Seamus Ennis. I wouldn’t exactly call that a golden age..
Exactamont ol Eldarion my thoughts in a nutshell…wot feckin present day Golden Age?Have I missed something
Rory as ye well know that is the normal Glaschu greeting to the Sassanach of course taken from the Irsh Póg Mo Thóin ,the response is entirely up to said sassana but it twould be a fool who mistook it for a Gay Pride March 
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam
PS now back to the subject wich is Braveheart,Titanic,Rob Rory and Snow White and the 7 vertically challeged workaholics…
I wouldn’t call it a golden age either. Maybe if the recent interest in piping were to be sustained for 40 or 50 more years, we could call it a golden age. I think we’re merely witnessing a spike in interest which peaked 3 or 4 years ago and which, like the global economy, is now waning.
Hey - maybe there’s a link between the global economy and uilleann piping. Finally, a theme for my thesis.
Oh well, it beats practising.
youve said more than a mouthful there PJ…live entertainers (of the non-stadium-sellout sort..in other words.. REAL talent) is a leading economic indicator…bell wether if you will… first to go during the crunch.
That’s right, like a canary in a coal mine unfortunately.
Seriously, most of the adverts for pipes for sale mention that the vendor has to pay for something else - new house, kid’s othodontics, crashed car, etc. Pipes are a big, expensive luxury, and the first thing to go when the belts have to be tightened.
I’d be curious to see if a lot of fair-weather pipers cancel orders if the economy goes south. I’d bet that some of the long waiting lists will be significantly cut.
No matter what the reason,I dont see how anyone could argue that is indeed the golden age in Uilleann pipe history up to this point, and anyone who disagrees I’ve noticed has not given an alternative.
I think We have both quantity and quality with the pipers and pipemakers
at the present time.
As for the waning popularity of the pipes ,If you live in the arsehole of nowhere its understandable you might think this, but anyone who has been to Willie week or the Doran weekend will know differently.
So when would you consider to be the golden age Uilleann pipes so far
RORY
PD.
Why ?
RORY