What are Irish Warpipes?
Ancient Origins
Bagpipes have appeared in various cultures throughout history. Although closely associated with Scotland today, the origins of the bagpipe are deeply rooted in Ireland, where they are often forgotten. William Grattan Flood, a professor of music at the National University of Ireland, traced the instrument's early origins to the Middle East around 4000 B.C. He noted Chaldean sculptures depicting bagpipes and suggested that the biblical figure Jubal, often associated with the harp and organ, might have played a form of bagpipe.
From an Initial Letter Dinnseanchus Mss A.D.1300
Early Irish History
In Ireland, bagpipes have a rich history. A seventh-century account from the palace of Da Derg in Bohernabreena, County Dublin, mentions nine pipers who played for King Conaire the Great in 35 B.C. who came from the fairy hills of Bregia (County Meath), "the best pipe-players in the whole world," who are listed by name as Bind, Robind, Riarbind, Sihe, Dibe, Deicrind, Umal, Cumal & Ciallglind. The Brehon Laws of the 400s referenced the bagpipe, known as the *curse*, a term meaning "pulse." The bagpipe was significant at the great *Feis* (parliament or festival) held at Tara until the last one under King Dermot MacFergus in 560 A.D. Even after Christianity took hold, the bagpipe was used in church services, as seen in the High Cross of Clonmacnois from around 910 A.D., which depicts a bagpiper standing on two cats.
Galway Piper - 1300's AD. Stone carving of Irish Bagpiper (Píob Mhór) showing the mouth blown Gaelic Bagpipes with 2 drones. From near Shop Street, Galway City, Ireland. Date : 1300's AD. Now located in the Galway City Museum.
The Charlesland (Wicklow) Pipes
Charlesland, located south of Greystones in Co. Wicklow on Ireland's eastern coast, lies about 30 km south of Dublin and 2 km from the Irish Sea. Between December 2002 and August 2004, extensive archaeological excavations were conducted over a 45-hectare development zone, uncovering 17 sites dating from the Neolithic to the Medieval Period. The topography varied significantly within the area, influencing the nature of the discoveries. Radiocarbon dating of wood samples from the site revealed dates of 2137-1909 BC for wooden pipes and an Early Bronze Age date for a wooden peg found in a trough, highlighting the period's advancements in metalworking with copper, bronze, and gold.
Click here for more information on the Charlesland (Wicklow) pipes.
The Bagpipe in Religious and Social Contexts
After Ireland embraced Christianity, bagpipes found their place in church services, sustaining sacred chants and serving as solo instruments. Throughout medieval Ireland, bagpipes were integral to social gatherings, funerals, and military endeavors. Vincenzo Galilei, a 16th-century musician and father of the famous astronomer Galileo Galilei, described the bagpipe as central to Irish military culture, with pipers leading troops into battle and accompanying the dead to their graves with mournful melodies. This tradition is echoed in various historical accounts, including the funeral of Donnchadh MacCeallach (king of Osraige, a medieval kingdom in Kilkenny and Western County Laois), in 975, where pipers played alongside keeners.
Boar playing pipes - Tullyaughnish Church, Donegal
Spread to Scotland
The bagpipe likely reached Scotland with the Dalradians, who migrated from County Antrim around 470 A.D. under Prince Fergus MacErc. During the 5th and 7th centuries A.D., Scotland was invaded by Gaels from Ireland, called the Scoti, who settled on the west coast, the islands, and the Highlands. They brought their culture, language, dress, and music, including the harp, singing, whistles, and bagpipes, with them. The Scottish and Irish bagpipes differ mainly in the number of drones and their names: the Scottish "Great Highland Bagpipe" has three drones, while the Irish "Great Irish Warpipe" has two. In Gaelic, both are referred to as "Píob Mór."
A 16'-century painting within the missal of the Abbey of Rosgall, Co. Kildare.
Military Significance
Throughout history, Irish pipers played crucial roles in battles. Vincenzo Galilei, in his *Dialogue on Ancient and Modern Music* (1581), noted the martial use of bagpipes by the Irish. The Battle of the Curlews in 1599 is one instance where Irish pipers led their comrades into combat. The emotional impact of the bagpipe was also evident at funerals, such as that of Donnchadh, King of Ossory in 975, where the pipes accompanied keeners in lamentation.
During the medieval period, Irish pipers often led troops into battle. An account by Standish O'Grady of the Battle of the Curlew Mountains (in Roscommon and Sligo) in 1599 describes how pipers bravely stood out beyond their men, playing battle pibrochs amid the chaos of combat.
"Kilkea" Piper - Drawing from old stone sculpture at Woodstock Castle, Co Kildare, Ireland.
Suppression and Resistance
Despite their importance, the bagpipes faced suppression by various rulers. King Richard II, recognising the bagpipe's power to inspire rebellion, banned them in 1366 under the Statute of Kilkenny, with severe penalties for infractions. This ban was reinforced by subsequent rulers, including Queen Elizabeth I and Cromwell, whose punishments included death or banishment to the West Indies. However, pipers sometimes received special permissions to play, as seen with Donal O'Moghan in 1375 and Richard Bennett in 1469.
Ironically, while suppressing the bagpipes in Ireland, King Richard II employed pipers in his court, highlighting the instrument's popularity even in England. The bagpipes continued to play a role in Irish regiments serving the English crown, marching into battles across Europe, such as the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 and the Battle of Crecy in 1346.
This 18th century print shows an English military official hanging an Irish piper for playing seditious tunes.
The Irish Warpipes
The Irish warpipes, or "Píob Mór na hÉireann," have a historical lineage dating back to before 927 A.D., prominently mentioned in the funeral of Donnchadh MacCeallach, King of Osraige. The term "warpipe" became more common during the 1600s, when the English began to recognise and label them as such. The instrument was integral to Irish military forces, both domestically and abroad, in conflicts and ceremonial functions.
The Great Highland Bagpipe (GHB), commonly associated with Scotland, shares its origins with the Irish warpipes. The primary difference lies in the number of drones; Irish warpipes typically have two drones (one bass and one tenor), while the Scottish version evolved to include a third drone.
Great Irish Warpipes Bagpipes at Fontenoy 1745. Irish Bagpipes were played at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745 by the Irish Brigade of the French. One set from a deceased Irish Brigade Piper, were on display at the Musee de Cluny, Paris, from 1850. In 1906 a colour plate and description was taken at an audit. It describes the Irish Bagpipes as having two drones, a green bag cover and almost identical to sets which survived the Battle of Culloden. They were last seen in 1936 but very sadly disappeared without trace along with other items. The Great Irish Warpipe and Great Highland Bagpipe are the same instrument with origins in Gaelic Ireland and the Gaelic Highlands.
Decline and Resurgence
By the end of the 16th century, the Irish *warpipe* had almost vanished, replaced by the quieter uilleann pipe, which could be played indoors and was not subject to the same bans. The uilleann pipe, requiring bellows under the right arm to pump air into the bag, became the national instrument of Ireland by 1710.
The bagpipe began reappearing in Ireland around the turn of the 20th century, influenced by Irishmen who had served in the British army. Pipe bands, influenced by Ulster Scot and Scottish heritage, emerged, incorporating Irish traditional music. Notable contributions to this revival include publications by Dave Rickard and Terry Tully, which have popularised Irish jigs and reels in pipe band repertoires worldwide. The St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band's live concert in Kilkenny exemplified this blend of Irish traditional music with bagpipes, marking a milestone in the cultural revival of this iconic
Irish War Piper - From Derrick's Image of Ireland. 1581.
Military and Cultural Resurgence
The Irish bagpipe saw a resurgence in military contexts, particularly within Irish regiments serving foreign powers. Irish pipers were noted in various European armies, including France and Spain. The Battle of Fontenoy in 1745 marked a significant moment where Irish pipers led their comrades to victory, playing the Jacobite song "The White Cockade."
The 19th and early 20th centuries saw further efforts to revive and maintain the tradition of Irish bagpipes. The first official association for pipe bands was established in Ireland, which boasted more pipe bands than any other country by 1910. This period also saw the participation of pipers in significant historical events, such as the 1916 Easter Rising, where many rebels were pipers or uilleann pipers. Notable members in Ireland's war of independence also played the bagpipes, such as Thomas Ashe (founder of Black Raven Pipe Band, Lusk, Co. Dublin) and Éamonn Ceannt, who played his bagpipes for Pope Pious X during the sacerdotal jubilee celebrations in September 1908. This generated significant publicity for Ceannt before his subsequent arrest and execution in May 1916.
piobare na hÉireann (War Piper of the Gael it National Costume).
Modern Usage and Cultural Significance
The bagpipes have been a continuous part of Irish history, used in social gatherings, funerals, weddings, GAA matches and events. They played a role in every Irish rebellion from the 1200s to 1916 and were used by Irish mercenary forces abroad. By the 19th century, the bagpipe was symbolically and practically intertwined with Irish identity.
Each year, the biggest bagpiping display in the world is the annual St. Patrick's Day festival held on or near March 17th. Irish Americans have also done a great service to remembering and maintaining the Irish piping and drumming tradition. The first official association for bagpipe bands started in Ireland. Ireland had more pipe bands in 1910 than the rest of the world combined. Today the biggest form of street entertainment groups in Ireland are pipe bands. Many of the 1916 rebels were Irish warpipe players or uilleann pipers. The bagpipes are woven into Irish history.
Gaelic Irish Warpipes / Píob Mór in action 1593 against the English. The Battle of Belleek, was fought on the River Erne near Belleek in Fermanagh, Ireland, on 10 October 1593. Between a Gaelic Irish army under Hugh Maguire, lord of Fermanagh-who had begun a revolt against the English-and an English Crown expeditionary force under Sir Henry Bagenal, As was custom in Irish Armies the Bagpipers were part of the war fare and at least one piper died in this sketch recorded by an English scout.
The Irish Warpipes and Highland bagpipes are essentially the same instrument. As it’s a woodwind instrument, there were regional variations within Ireland and Scotland using local woods and craftsmen. Also, the addition of a third drone seems to have been a Scottish evolution in the 1700s. There is evidence of 3 and 2-droned pipes being used in Ireland at the 1798 rebellion against the English in Wexford, Ireland.
Notably, during Henry VIII's siege of Boulogne, pipers were recorded in a muster roll attached to forces. In 1581, Vincenzo Galilei (father of the famous Galileo Galilei) highlighted their use in Irish armies, and by 1586, Richard Stanihurst described their construction and impact on martial courage.
In 1689, during the war with William of Orange, the Irish war pipes played a significant role, welcoming King James II with bagpipes and dancing. As the late 17th century unfolded, there were reports of peacetime use, including playing for hurling teams. Transitioning into the 18th century, Irish pipers like Barney Thompson headed an Irish pipers and drummers group in the U.S. Irish Regiments. Irish pipers in British Army regiments were mentioned many times, and Irish bagpipes in the French Army Irish Regiments were common in the 1700s and 1800s.
Drawing of Gaelic Irish Bagpiper from the 1500's. Stored at the National Library, Paris, France.
The rise of the uilleann pipes around 1760 marked the decline of the Irish war pipes. While uilleann pipes thrived in quieter social settings, the Irish war pipes faded from prominence. This decline continued through the 1800s, with the introduction of the Highland pipes to the new Scottish British Regiments by Queen Victoria in the 1800s. Despite their decline, Irish war pipes remained integral to Irish culture and heritage, with pipe bands continuing to thrive and contribute to global traditions.
The bagpipe's journey in Ireland is a tale of resilience and cultural significance. From its ancient origins to suppression and revival, the bagpipe has remained a symbol of Irish heritage and identity. Despite efforts to silence the Irish warpipes, the bagpipe endured, adapting to new forms and contexts, and continues to be celebrated in modern Irish culture. The instrument's ability to evoke deep emotions, whether in battle or at social gatherings, underscores its timeless relevance in the tapestry of Irish history.
Irish Piper playing 3 drones on his WarPipes, 1798 Wexford
1810 - Irish Warpipes. 19th Century Irish Bagpipes - thought to be from 1810, maker unknown. By that date both 2 and 3 drone versions of the Piob Mór were played in Ireland. These got the name of "The Fenian Bag Pipes," as they were played during Nationalist rebellions in the mid 1800's. They were auctioned as contents of " Furness House " in Kildare in 2015. They are five turned hardwood pipes with silver plated mounts, and ivory tips, a goat leather bag with outer green velvet cover.
THE IRISH PIPER - JIM LATIMER - Pictures by JOHN
píobaire Clonne Mestl ó Apomacha. (The O'Neill Pipers of Armagh in Gaelic
O'Neill War Pipers, Armagh Feis na nGleann
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