I learned some very interesting things flicking through my copy of “Chanter” magazine the other day. I came across an article on what looked like a pleasant event called The Bramhan Mill Blowout.
According to this article and previously unknown to me, a native of Belfast, the RUC had a tradition of Uilleann piping! Not one or two or a dozen of its members mind you, but the organisation itself presumably.
I had known that there is a famous photo of some R.I.C (Royal Irish Constabulary which was disbanded in 1922) members posing with UPs but what a nice surprise to learn that the latter day organisation, which it transpires had collaborated in the murder of some of my countrymen and women, had a pleasant cultural wing.
It is clear that the RUC had a sanctioned tradition of ‘highland’ pipe bands as a force, it is true that they had a tradition of loyalty to the crown, but a recognised, constabulary UP tradition… I don’t think so: The British Army has a number of people who get together to play ‘classical’ CDs in their free time, does this therefore constitute a British Army ‘classical’ music tradition for example? Was there ever the recognised RUC Union Pipe Band?
I know a couple of piping officers and know of a few more. Good luck to them, but lets not make a song and a dance out of a stray jig and a reel.
In the same article I was further informed that union pipes where frowned on by nationalists (Irish ones I presume, because of the term ‘union’?) until people started calling them uilleann pipes in the USA…!? What an eye opener.
Who is inventing this history, and more importantly, why are they doing it?
I have read several articles describing a passionate following of ITM by many Prods up until things started getting really nasty late 1960s/early 1970s. This was largely at seminaries, colleges and universities in NI. From what I have read, there was no question of which side you were on - just love of the music. With ITM’s associations to Scottish music it is easy to see how this would develop.
I agree that I can’t see ITM or UPs becoming an officially sanctioned activity within the RUC, but certainly there would likely be a few individuals who would dissociate any negative connotations and just enjoy the music and the instrument.
GAA: Hurling’s one thing, but personally I wouldn’t be too upset about being excluded from “Gaelic” football. It’s about as gaelic as a pearly queen and as makey uppey as ‘ceili’ dancing.
I didn’t mean to offend. I was referring to the rediculous and infamous Ban which prevented members of the RUC (or British army for that matter) from being members of the GAA - effectively preventing them from playing Gaelic Football or Hurling. TTBOMK, the NPU had so such rule.
PJ didnae mean to offend then goes on to be more offensive by calling the GAA Ban On Crown Forces participating in their games on their grounds as …
“rediculous and infamous”.. your quote.
What an insult to those who were fighting in every way possible,including the ban,to achieve Irish Nationhood…
I for one am proud of the sacrifices made by mine and ours in difficult times.
Making crude judgements frae cosey Quebec is very simple,but it is innacurate ,displays a remarkable insensitivity to Irish affairs and an ignorance of Irish history.
Harry has an interesting point but probably comes more frae the authors of the article who are using fiction rather than fact for the piece,displaying their own ignorance,which seems to be the trend doesn’t it.
Davey is spot on and the influence of Protestantism be it Calvinist or Presbytarian in Irish Culture is not to be overlooked nor diminshed…
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam
then goes on to be more offensive by calling the GAA Ban On Crown Forces participating in their games on their grounds as …