The William Kennedy Piping Festival held annually in Armagh is an international celebration of Irish and global piping traditions. It is organised by the Armagh Pipers Club who themselves are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2016. ITMA has field collected regularly at this event capturing an important range of performers and traditions. As well as featuring individual pipers, duets, trios and groups form an important part in event programming at the festival. 

In 2006 uilleann piper Robbie Hannan and fiddle player Dermot McLaughlin performed at a concert in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh. As they said themselves this was ‘the third concert in a world tour that had begun two years previously and had already taken in Donegal and Cork!’

ITMA will be field recording at the 23rd William Kennedy Piping Festival in Armagh, 17-20 November 2016.

With thanks to Robbie Hannan and Dermot McLaughlin for permission to make this recording available online.

TH, PH & GT, 1 October 2016