just think…in this day and age, if they can extend the life expectency for your country more than one year each year (on average) you could theoretically live forever so long as the trend keeps up… 
Hello Children,
I think pipemakers should become a religious order and make pipes as a gift to God. Donating these sets to interested congregation members. They would all wear the same gear too. Maybe a nice pair of knickerbockers with ribbons at the knee, a swallow tail coat, silver buckles on their shoes topped off with a Carolina hat? They will be called the Uillucian Monks and carry Bb chanters hung from the shiny brass buckles of their belts for beating unworthy worshipers who wrongfully accepted sets.
Yes, I thus deem it so.
Judge.
Ah, St. D’Arcy, isn’t it ever the case, though, that in time it becomes the more affluential who can make the largest donations to such religious establishments who come to benefit the most from such “gifts” from the clergy?
djm
It only guarantees a seat next to the Almighty in the next life!
Judge (and jury)
Praise the Lord & Pass the Chiff 
Surely, but with a beter set of pipes on their laps. 
djm
but whose initials are Dennis O’Reagan
That’s a lot of initials.
(PS… Go Joe!)
I would go so far as to say that unless you are a professional piper, making your living from playing the music, you have no business spending more than $6000 on a full set. Why? Because it’s immoral to spend that much money on something that is not essential in making your living.
There are many pipers out who make all or at least part of their living from playing pipes that can barely afford that kind of money for a set of pipes.
But thats what they cost and if you haven’t the money, well don’t buy them.
This topic has raged before, both online and in the dark corners of public houses in the wee small hours.
Uilleann pipes are cheap. Bottom line. Go off and price a hand made clarinet or bassoon or a wooden flute made by Hammy Hamilton, Chris Abel or Chris Wilkes.
You pay almost $3500 or $4000 for a fully keyed flute.
And the point about not spending that money unless you are professional musician. Rubbish.
And anyway what if you want the instrument to be made by a professional maker?
Should part-time makers charge less??
I’ll stop now.
Tommy
I wish that I could afford to even test drive a Land Rover.
But prices? I paid $900 rt to Ireland each time in 1983, 1986, and 1988 (summer with a connector thru Boston/NY). Traveled to Ireland three times last year non-stop (no better flight around than the Chicago-Dublin non-stop - it’s like falling asleep on your sofa and waking up in Dublin - 6 hrs 25 minutes) for rt $355 (March), $540 (August), and $370 (November).
Don’t get me started on the cost of wooden flutes (particularly when the tuning slide ALWAYS cracks).
Hardly a like comparison. Tourism to Ireland has fallen off since 9/11. Even WCSS has noticed the drop in attendees. No wonder the prices have dropped.
A full set is easily 500-600 hours to make, depending on options. A pipemaker may have to store the wood for 5-10 years to make sure it is aged enough for use. What’s his time, tools and materials worth? And the more pipes he makes, the better the quality (hopefully), and the more his work is worth. I’m not aware of any improvements to overseas flights to compare.
djm
Maybe it has fallen but I paid $249 for a rt CHGO-DUB non-stop in November, 1999.
There seems to be pipes at every price point. A set of pipes can take anywhere from 50 - 360 hours. I have not heard how long Alain’s 5-reg, 4 drone c# set took but that would be hitting the max.
What’s a day at Disneyworld cost for a family and 2 kids?
..
a non stop? how ever did you get off the plane? did they give you a parachute, or did you have to bring your own if you flew coach?
…
Look, lets not kid ourselves. Much of the issue surrounding the cost is about choices we make. Eccept for those of you that are really hungry (but then what the hell are you doing with a PC), most of us who love the pipes are willing to spend for the highest of quality. IMO, the rest of the people are either to young to aford more than a practice set (but eventually you will be able to afford the rest, so just keep on plugging away on the most important element - the chanter), or they just don’t have the same passion for the pipes to make the commitment and put their money where their mouth is. Case in point: how many of the people complaining have been to Disney Land/World (as Jim said before), or have a car that isn’t the least expensive model, or have a motorcycle, or take a vacation or ski or golf? I am sure the list of interests and hobbies and things that the complainers spend on is as long as my arm. But they don’t want to do without any of those things to make the sacrafice: a one-time purchase of a masterly crafted instrument.
Ohh I know!
The royal danish theatre owns one. It’s on permanent loan to a danish fiddler (from the theatre orchestra). Last year he was touring with a danish singer/actor who apparently had a drink too many and smashed the instrument on stage…
And I think the price level for Stradivari and Guarneri’s are ridiculous. I mean 3.5 mill $ for a fiddle? I don’t think you’ll find a 3.5 mill Coyne or Harrington… :roll:
/Morten
There ARE budget pipes for people on budgets. Just like there are budget pianos, guitars, violins and drums (or whatever you’re into!). Do I hear people complaining about the price of a Bösendorfer piano? Never. Why? Because they are among the top 5 pianos on the planet. I don’t happen to have $150,000 lying around for on of those. Hell, I don’t even have $5,000 to get me a nice mid-range full set - but I will wait until I’ve saved up enough to purchase a fantastic, breathtaking quality set of uilleann pipes, because they’re good enough, they’re smart enough and doggonit people like 'em.
Why do I like to give my money away? Because someone worked their fingers to the bone making a work of art. That my friends is worth every stinking nickle. Buy what you can, stop complaining. If I have a reason to complain I do something about it, I don’t sit there in my frustration chair.
I personally really like the comment about those who “have” can give something to those who “have not”. It is my personal goal to do this, you watch me 
Currently I am in the “have not” category, but I imagine in three years time I will be commissioning a myriad of sets to be donated to teachers and students. I will ask for your support most likely. So be prepared.
I think this statement has come the closest to hitting the nail on the head. The chanter is THE most important component to a set of Uilleann Pipes. By my way of thinking, what one spends on their practice set, in part, reflects the amount of devotion they have toward learning how to play this instrument; and while not impossible, they are far from easy to learn.
But the beauty of it is, you don’t HAVE to start out on a full set. As you progress, you can add drones and later if you choose so, regulators. Granted, the initial price of a really good practice set may seem a little high, but think of it more along the lines of an investment… an investment of money, time, heart and soul.
And, as has been stated ad nauseum within this forum, should you come to the conclusion that the Uilleann Pipes are not for you, your expensive set can be sold for what you paid (or more depending on the maker) for it in the first place… an investment.
Speak for yourself…life’s not that simple and can’t be categorised that easily. That fact that I am 35, have been piping for 10 +years on a half set that cost A$1500 and that I have to prioritise my spending in order to make ends meet, including trying to maintain a dinosaur PC for work and study purposes, DOES NOT mean I don’t have the same passion for the pipes to make the commitment and put their money where my mouth is.
Cheers,
DavidG