I’ve been learning about the dislike uillean and GHB have for each other. How long has this been going on? I’ve been playing GHB for 12 yrs. but it’s only since I’ve been reading uilleann pipe forums I’ve learned about this. Both instruments have their challanges & in other ways are quite alike. (I’m now learning to play the uilleann pipes)(I’m Irish, Scottish, German, Indian, Viking and no telling what else) I always thought the Irish & Scottish were so mixed it didn’t make any difference which one you were. I like the loud, proud, heritage of the GHB, marching off to war, and the sheding of tears at funerals, the last goodbye. And the reels and jigs of the uilleann pipes makes everybody want to dance. The uilleann pipes can change octives to add additional feeling to tunes no GHB ever could, but played together, fantastic! So whats the deal? Some pipe makers even make both. Is this an American thing?
Francis O’Neill, in his book “Irish Musicians and Minstrels,” quotes one fellow as saying the difference between the Highland and Union pipes is that the Union pipes are a musical instrument. Zing! O’Neill played the Lowland pipes, was friends with various Highland pipers, and adjudicated competitions in Chicago, it should be noted.
He also quotes a couple of early observers who were quite surprised at how lovely and melodious the Irish pipes were, after expecting the worst from bagpipe music, which has been getting a bum rap for thousands of years, by the way.
Plenty of Irish pipers have played the Highland pipes too; the Coynes and Taylors made them as well. No, what Irish pipers traditionally detest is an instrument called the accordion, supposedly due to its being in tune[!]. When the Pipers’ club reformed in Dublin in the 40s there was a rule: NO ACCORDIONS!
I have only heard good things said by GHB players about the sound of UPs. However, once they learn that the fingering is different on UPs, they tend to run away (not all, but many).
I suppose there are some UP players who don’t care for the sound of GHBs (not me), but most seem to take offense only when someone confuses UPs with GHBs, i.e. lumps all bagpipes together like they are all the same thing, or sound the same.
As for mixing up Scots and Irish, there are a lot of people on this side of the pond who are so far removed from their ancestry to not know or care. Then again, there are some people who would kill you for less. 
djm
Oh, I’m not so sure it’s a “dislike” thing so much as just good natured ribbing.
My experience is that Upipers and Bigpipers tend to respect each others art but will kid each other about their choice of instrument, all in good fun, y’know?
Jeff