Stamullen

UILLEANN PIPES

The current edition of An Píobaire, from the Society of Irish Pipers, Na Píobairi Uilleann, contains the tale of Billy and Charley Taylor originally from Drogheda and who emigrated to America back in the 1860`s, made adaptions to the old Irish Uilleann Pipes and made this wonderful musical instrument more suitable for playing in the larger American Concert Halls of the day; these subsequent changes brought the Taylor brothers to the forefront of the later 19th century revival of the Irish Uilleann Pipes and as a result of such adaptions, the Drogheda natives became renowned across the world in the circle of Irish traditional piping music.

Community Historian and Stamullen local, Brendan Matthews had carried out extensive research on the history of the Taylor brothers over the last number of years and he presented a talk on the brothers during last years Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann which of course was held in the town of Drogheda, the former hometown of the Uilleann Pipe makers and players. Brendan Matthews also wrote an extensive article on the findings of his research on the brothers and it has now been published by Na Píobairi Uilleann in their Samhain/November edition, Vol. 14 No. 4. This article also covers the origins of Uilleann Piping music, pipers and traditional musicans in the Drogheda and East Meath area from the early 19th century and contains a mention of a number of local musicans and makers of traditional musical instruments.

There is also a photograph of Tom Matthews, the Greenanstown native, who, not only made many fine musical instruments, but who also wrote many tunes with localised titles such as `The Glasmerry Stream`, `Greenanstown Lasses`, `Fourknocks` and `Harbourstown` along with many others.

Brendan Matthews will also present a talk on the Taylor brothers at Na Píobairi Uilleann Headquarters in Dublin during the spring of 2019 and, it is hoped, that a presentation talk may also be given at the Drogheda Museum on the same topic in early 2019 where the Community Historian & Researcher will elaborate further on the origins of local traditional music and musicans in the Stamullen, Greenanstown and Naul areas and the connection between his own Grand Uncle Tom Matthews, Jimmy Ennis, father of the greatest Irish Piper, Seamus and the visits to these musical sessions by Eamon Ceannt, one of the signatories of the Easter Rising Proclamation in 1916. 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Seamus Ennis and many great musical events are planned for the Ennis Centre in Naul village as a result.

GORMANSTON BEACH

There was a noticeable increase in the number of people visiting Gormanston beach for a stroll on Christmas Day.

The mild weather of late certainly helped and despite no signposts indicating that we even have a beach 200 metres east of the old N1, now the R132 road from Gormanston to Balbriggan, new residents to the greater Stamullen area have discovered over time that it is in fact an excellent and safe strand for individuals, couples and families to visit.