UP & GNIPC featured in the press

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hi, all:

You might enjoy this nice write-up that our local newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, gave to our instrument and our club:

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/250364431.html

I’m resisting the temptation to address the one or two inaccuracies in the piece, which was written by a terrific journalist (Jeff Strickler) who spent quite a bit of time with us. Suffice it to say that although some finer points of the respective histories of the uilleann and Great Highland bagpipes got a bit muddled in translation, my conscience is clear. :wink:

In fact, I’m thrilled for the exposure. Besides putting the Great Northern Irish Pipers’ Club in a flattering light (and why not?), I think it also gives a nice boost to awareness of the instrument itself. Note that the Star Tribune’s print edition averages 1.3 million readers per week, and its various digital editions are viewed by 7.3 million unique visitors per month.

Special thanks to Tommykleen who, in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day parades filled with “Irish-themed” Highland pipe bands, proactively and persistently alerted local media that their readers might be interested to learn about “real Irish pipes.” Neither the timing nor the very existence of this piece is a coincidence!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all,
Mick

2

Cool! I like what the pipers said!




That looks like Joey Abarta’s set of pipes, hmmm!

3

Thanks, ennischanter! I was especially happy that Jeff quoted every piper who showed up at that particular meeting.

My favorite was:

“You don’t pick the Irish pipes,” said John Ingman, who also plays tuba in the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra. “The pipes pick you.”

Also, good catch on the “Abarta” set: one of our guys does indeed own what used to be Joey’s main instrument, a very sweet Hubbert 3/4 concert set. :slight_smile:

Cheers,
Mick

4

Nice article, and good PR.

5

Funny: in that shot of me holding the pipes it looks like I’ve had the “Liam Walsh Modification”.