Sharkey is certainly a distinctive name. In my research, I often see seemingly unrelated nicknames (to the researcher, anyway) that confuse the direct path to finding someone.
So, Glands, I am curious, just how many sets do you currenty possess? And, is it your long time goal to own every historic set ever made?
Just one or two. Not interested in owning them all. The WR set is now on its way to new reeds.
"Add a couple of hundred for a refit, reeding and tuning, match the body with my Williams C chanter and I’d have had a decent set. " Ken.
I think you made a wise decision Ken. The set isn’t an original Willie R set to me, as the chanter is missing, and as David Quinn has mentioned some of the remaining parts of the pipes have been replaced. Do you use your Williams C chanter with your B set then?
Pat Mitchell’s Willie R set is complete but he uses a Matt Kiernan chanter with the pipes. Pat has the original Willie R. chanter but doesn’t use it for some reason, prehaps it’s been got at. Anyone know if Pat Sky uses his Willie R. chanter at all? Does anyone have a functioning Willie R. chanter apart from Mick O’Brien & Kevin Rowsome?
We’ve a local chap who plays a complete W. R. set. The chanter is taped and rushed. I THINK he has an extra* W.R. chanter as well…
I played alot of music with Pat Sky at the Swannanoa Gathering recently, in the key of C. His Willie set are playing beautifully. I also unearthed a brown ebony D Willie set in Dublin about a year and a half ago. A friend of mine bought them, petite little set. With a couple of Leo reeds trying them out they sounded fairly much the same as one of the better Leo sets.
David
I know of a girl playing a Willie Rowsome full set. The chanter’s reed seat was widened but not the throat. The A note hole ( I nearly said Ahole) was widened to tune it. Its in tune but with small fingers it can be tricky to cover. Other than that its identical to Mick O’Briens set.
Another friend has a W.R. chanter thats going fine too.
Kevin Thompson has a full set in C# that sings. He thinks its a copy of a Coyne.
Tommy
edited for shight typing
I played Tom Dahill’s Rousome D a couple of years ago, before he had it professionally serviced. It worked reasonably then but I’m assured it goes very nicely now. Pat D’Arcy has played it since it was overhauled.
Just to pick up Steampacket’s slight side track, I occasionally re-reed my D drones to bring them down to C. The G and A on the regs fit in easier than the B as well.
Ken
I’m sorry Tommy, did you just say you knew a girl whose a-hole was widened?! Yikes…what kind of people are YOU hanging around with! 
I’m sorry Tommy, did you just say you knew a girl whose a-hole was widened?! Yikes…what kind of people are YOU hanging around with!
Yep, Dahill’s pipes are playing quite well right now.
Whoops 
Tommy said
I know of a girl playing a Willie Rowsome full set
I know the same girl, won’t mention her name, and have known her for about 4 years now via lessons in Drumshanbo. What a lovely player she has become and a magnificent player she will be. She has a great sense of the music and a keen ear with a tremendous musical memory.
Lewis,
I know who tried to fix it too…
She was in my class when I last taught in NPU. The restorer didn’t seem to care much about it at all. Even the reeds were badly made, I’m not saying the restorer is a bad reed maker but deffinitly didn’t care this time.
Tommy
Do the best that you can on behalf of your fellow man and you will be rewarded for the remainder of your days.
More music, less talk
I heard some really good things today about Mr. Power from one whom I consider to be one of the greatest thinkers of our current century…and the most recent century as well. I hope to meet David Power someday and to shake his hand in peace. I also look forward to meeting Tommy Martin one day, hopefully, in the not too distant future.
It has been an interesting journey with the pipes over the past 6.5 years. I am honored to play them and pleased to have met many fine people in the process of learning. I don’t much like hanging out with doctors these days. I much prefer spending time with my friends I’ve met along the way on the journey to who knows where throughout the realm of Uilleann piping. We really are a fortunate lot in many ways.
la de da de… stuff removed
The set in question was restored in Dec, 2001 and I saw the set after it had been completed, even trying the chanter. The restoration was spot-on for the owner who has the burden for the outcome, based on the instructions and dollar amount committed to the project. The restorer went well beyond the order; other plans considering the set were rejected by the owner and so she has the set that she has.
It would be great if wood, especially old wood, could regenerate. Alternatives, such as excavating/filling/reboring holes (and then re-reaming) are not always the best alternative or consistent with preserving the finite heritage that we have in pipes. The restorer preserved all of those options for the owner.
It is irresponsible to comment on things without the entire set of facts.
I so very much enjoy the opportunity to learn from other pipers. I learn a great deal from getting together with friends. I would include the following pipers and musicians as those who have been most influential on my growth and development as a player, in order:
Kevin Rowsome tied with Neillidh Mulligan
Benedict Koehler
Patrick Hutchinson
Brian McNamara
I owe a debt of gratitude to David Quinn for the many hours of his life that he has spent pondering, designing, and constructing pipes. I have been a beneficiary of that great investment of time and mental energy as well as physicial labor. I am also indebted to Benedict Koehler for the skill and precision with which he crafts reeds based on his scientific observations and formulated opinions gained by investing countless hours in making thousands if not tens of thousands of reeds.
Fair enough Lewis, But I’ll leave one little thing in.
When was the last time you went to a pipe-maker with a shiney,perfectly tuned set and play a tune for them just because the set is in great nick. Maybe more of us should.
Keep your local pipe-maker happy.
Tommy