The Secret of Kells Exhibition 11 - 26 Jan 2014
Don't miss this chance to visit this exhibition of limited edition art prints of scenes from The Secret of Kells, the critically-acclaimed animated feature film by Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon. Nominated for an Academy award in 2010, this enchanting story of Brendan, the Vikings and the Book of Kells won millions of fans across the world. The prints are gloriously high-resolution, gallery-quality illustrations and draw heavily on the Irish medieval art that influenced the film.
Special event Sat 25 & Sun 26 January
Pipe makers and players from Na Píobairí Uilleann will be in the exhibition space between 12.30pm and 2.30pm on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 January. Come and see how these intriguing native Irish instruments are made – starting from the surprising beginnings of just a few small pieces of wood.
Learn about the craft of making these instruments, their fascinating history and watch pipe reeds being made live before your eyes. You can even have a go at playing a set of pipes making some fun and musical sounds with them. Be sure to ask the pipers lots of questions - you’ll be amazed to learn about all the strange pipes, materials and tools involved in this intricate process.
About Na Píobairí Uilleann
By the 1960s very few people in Ireland were playing the pipes and far fewer, perhaps only five, were engaged in the making of the instrument. It was a matter of grave concern that the art would decline further and so The Society of Uilleann Pipers known as Na Píobairí Uilleann (The Uilleann Pipers) was founded in 1968 at grassroots level by pipers themselves. The aims of the Na Píobairí Uilleann society are to perpetuate the spirit of the music, in particular the playing of the pipes and the production and maintenance of the instrument itself. To achieve these aims the single most important facet of the Society’s activities is the teaching of the uilleann pipes, especially to young people, as it is through this that the playing of the instrument will increase, prosper and develop. The degree to which the work of the Society has borne fruit is reflected in the number of pipemakers, many professional, now producing pipes - about forty throughout the world.
