Entertainment

Armagh pipers set for international stage

Brian Vallely and Conor Mallon of Armagh Pipers Club. Picture by Brian Morrison
Brian Vallely and Conor Mallon of Armagh Pipers Club. Picture by Brian Morrison Brian Vallely and Conor Mallon of Armagh Pipers Club. Picture by Brian Morrison

UILLEANN pipers Conor Mallon and Conor Lavelle are set to represent Ireland at the Croatian Piping Festival in Zagreb.

The two young pipers are members of Armagh Pipers Club (APC) and will perform alongside musicians from Croatia, Turkey, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Slovakia and the Czech Republic at the prestigious international festival from September 24 to 27.

Conor Mallon, also a tutor with APC, was awarded the Northern Ireland Young Musicians Platform Award in December last year, the first ever traditional musician to be presented with the award by the Arts Council NI and BBC Northern Ireland.

Brian Vallely, founder member and APC director, said: “I’ve no doubt that the two musicians we are sending out to Croatia next month will do us proud."

The Zagreb festival marks the start of a year of celebrations for the Armagh Pipers Club, which next year will celebrate five decades of success in keeping musical traditions alive and providing training for hundreds of young musicians.

Founded in 1966, it was set up with the aim of bringing the uilleann pipe back from the brink of extinction.

The club’s current membership includes 280 pupils, 31 tutors and a regular programme of masterclasses with top professional tutors working across a range of instruments.

The BBC will shortly begin to film a three-part documentary to air in 2016, a gala concert featuring APC-trained professional musicians is currently in the planning stages and a special DVD of songs associated with Armagh will also be produced.

:: For more information on the Armagh Pipers Club visit www.wkpf.org