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We perform on a variety of traditional instruments, Irish uilleann pipes, fiddle, Celtic harp, bouzouki and whistles.

CELTIC HARP / CLÁRSEACH
The Celtc harp is the national symbol of Ireland and has been played all over the world from early times in one form or other. Síobhan plays a 28 string celtic harp that stands about 3.5' tall. It differes from the classical harp in many ways, but most obviously the size. In the 17th century the harp was played by roving bards who would stay with wealthy sponsors, so the harps were small enough to be carried around the countryside. Many of the most famous of the Irish harpers were blind. Given the extreme poverty in Ireland under English rule, blindness was not uncommon and with few employment opportunities many became pipers or harpers. The tunes were largely passed on through the oral tradition.

FIDDLE / VEIDHLÍN
The fiddle is supposed to have been introduced into Ireland sometime in the 11th century although there are other references to the arrival of the fiddle. The fiddle or fidula as it was known may have differed in size and description from the fiddles we know today.

The "fiddle" is essentially a violin that is held and played differently than a classical violin. The instrument has had a long tradition in both Ireland and Scotland. In the 1700's there was a large influx of immigrants to the New World encouraged by the English to just go anywhere else. The settlers fiddle music became the music you hear today especially in the Appilacian region with old time and bluegrass and in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where the original Scots fiddle tradition survives.

UILLEANN PIPES / PÍOB UILLEANN
From the Irish "elbow", the uilleann pipes are a bagpipe unique to Ireland, evolved from the older form of bagpipes in the early 18th century. The uilleann pipes provide a larger range of notes, softer tone and are pitched in concert "D". Differing from the big pipes in that they are powered by bellows. played seated and have an additional set of pipes to provide chords. Terence's pipes are of the Taylor style and vintage (early 1800's).

GREAT HIGHLAND PIPES / PÍOB MHÓR
This is the familiar bagpipe seen at parades and funerals. A long martial history surrounds this instrument in Scotland and Ireland. The bagpipes or "piob mhor", meaning "big pipes" are played in Scotland and Ireland and it's the same instrument, just different melodies that make it Irish or Scottish.

IRISH BOUZOUKI
The bouzouki is a stringed instrument first introduced from Greece into Ireland in the Sixties, a time when Irish traditional music was undergoing great experimentation by popular Irish folk bands like Planxty. The instrument has taken centerstage among the tradition and never looked back. Variously called the bouzouki, mandola or octive mandolin, it provides a deeper sound than a mandolin and melds well with the harp, pipes and other traditional instruments. Mairéad plays an instrument made by Rick Westerman.

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