Irish traditional music is a living tradition which carries social and cultural heritage from family to family and generation to generation.  It is thriving in communities right across Northern Ireland, particularly in rural areas and within homes.

Since 1966 Armagh Pipers Club has been involved in promoting and teaching Irish traditional music and song.  It currently has hundreds of members and a diverse activity programme that includes public concerts, workshops and the annual William Kennedy Piping Festival which attracts more than 4,000 people. 

[quote=Tiarnan Smyth, young leader]“I am looking forward to develop skills which will not only help the project but also enhance my skill base and increase employability.”[/quote]

The club will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year and will mark this milestone by researching the musical heritage of its past and present members, students and their families and help to raise awareness of this culture and its legacy.

The project will be led by the club’s young members who will have the opportunity to learn a range of new skills in oral history interviewing techniques, project management and digital technologies. 

Young leader Tiarnan Smyth believes that taking part in the project will help him in lots of different ways:  “I am looking forward to develop skills which will not only help the project but also enhance my skill base and increase employability.”

The participants will conduct audio and video interviews with members and their families to map the musical landscape of the country and their community.  They will produce a digital archive, DVD and booklet to create a permanent record of this heritage which will be shared with others.

Aine Mallon, another young leader who sings and plays fiddle, added: “The opportunity to be trained in a range of new skills that will be used to document and develop the history and legacy of the Armagh Pipers club is new and exciting.”