Willie Clancy

Willie Clancy was, without doubt, one of the finest uilleann pipers we have known and hearing the beauty of his playing with his distinctive skills and repertoire will leave no lover of Irish traditional music unmoved.

Lashings of Music

Listen to the programme

RTÉ Radio 1 has rebroadcast Lashings of Music, a documentary programme on the life and times of one of the country's most famous uilleann pipers, Willie Clancy. He grew up in the town of Miltown Malbay in West Co. Clare and having spent his early years there he went first to Dublin and then to London where he spent some years in the 1950s before returning to Co. Clare.

He was one of the most famous aand accomplished players of the uilleann pipes and his music was and still is very influential. He died at the age of 54 and a major festival of traditional music Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy has been held annually in Miltown Malbay in his memory ever since.

The documentary Lashings of Music tells the story of his life through the memories of friends, relatives and fellow musicians with many interesting contributions. It is presented and produced by Peter Browne who, as it happens, knew Willie Clancy and learned some music from him.

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2 CD Set Newly Issued By RTÉ

RTÉ is also issuing a double CD of Willie Clancy's piping with rare and valuable tracks from the RTÉ Sound Archive as well as some tracks given by other music organisations and private collectors. It spans his entire playing career and represents a valuable contribution by RTÉ to the world of traditional music. It will be of benefit to fans of traditional music, learners and lovers alike.

This double CD is titled The Gold Ring and it will be on sale from Dec 4th nationwide and is available from www.rte.ie/shop

This newly issued double CD from RTÉ, Willie Clancy - The Gold Ring, is a comprehensive collection of Willie Clancy's piping from a period of over twenty five years. It brings together recordings from many different places, times and sources and provides the opportunity to hear over two and a half hours of the finest of his playing.

Willie Clancy's name is held in very high regard in the world of Irish traditional music and these recordings can tell us why. There is inspiration here for the players of today and the future, there are tunes to be enjoyed and learned, techniques to be studied, skills to be absorbed and best of all, there is attractive music at which we can all marvel.

Willie Clancy was an open minded, avid listener and a deep thinker about traditional music. Many influences can be heard in his playing which came from other musicians and singers whose styles and tunes made an impression on him. At the same time, his playing was highly personal and individual. It had depth, emotion, passion, humour, inventiveness, taste, technique and tradition in abundance.

His influence on individual pipers and other musicians and on ways of interpreting and playing traditional Irish music can certainly be heard today, long after his passing, and this comprehensive set of recordings is a valuable tribute to the memory of one of our great traditional musicians.

Willie Clancy CD Competition

The Rolling Wave and RTÉ Libraries and Archives are offering 2 copies of the new RTÉ double CD Willie Clancy The Gold Ring - Uilleann Piping from Co. Clare in a competition for listeners.

The question: "We know Willie Clancy was a famous uilleann piper but what was his profession or trade?"

Answers to therollingwave@rte.ie or by post to: The Rolling Wave, RTÉ Radio 1, Dublin 4.

Winners will be announced on the Rolling Wave of Sun 3rd January 2010. RTÉ standard competition terms and conditions apply.