The Ballagh Warpipers of Tipperary

In the rolling hills and vibrant villages of County Tipperary, a unique and spirited band known as the, “Ballagh Warpipers” once resonated with culturally rich musical sounds of the bagpipes. This legendary group, active in the late 1800s and early 1900s (officially established in 1908 in Knockavilla, Tipperary), drew its members from Ballagh, Clonoulty, Kilnamanagh, and other nearby villages in Tipperary. Their music, steeped in the soul of the Irish countryside, became a symbol of local pride and resilience.

The Ballagh Warpipers were a military band that were associated with the IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood) and the Irish Volunteers. The band consisted of many members of the “O’Dwyer” family who lived in a farmhouse on the hill above the primary school in Ballagh. The band played 3 drone warpipes as a form of rebelling against the British. The British forbid Irish Catholics from playing warpipes.

It is said that a man by the name of, “Liam Ó’Keeffe”, from Knockavilla, Tipperary, made the bagpipes for the Ballagh Warpipers band. The instruments were made from boxwood and yew. 

The legacy of the Ballagh Warpipers is beautifully captured in a song collected by Michael Dwyer of Bawnmore, County Tipperary. This song (or poem?), titled "The Ballagh Warpipers," offers a portrayal of the band's influence in their locality and the power of their music. Here is the song:

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The Ballagh Warpipers

On Saturday night as I went for a stroll,
By the old village school slowly pacing alone,
I was surprised by a musical tone.
'Twas the tone of the Ballagh War Pipers.

I stood in amazement and listened with joy, 
I hastened my steps till I landed close by;
Like the music of heaven come down from the sky,
Was the tone of the Ballagh War Pipers.

This green little island I have travelled all o'er,
And the Highlands of Scotland I once did explore,
But such music I ne'er in my life heard before,
As the tone of the Ballagh War Pipers.

When practice was over and they about to retire,
The house was addressed by the owner, Dwyer,
Saying stick boys together complete our desire,
By the roll of the Ballagh War Pipers.

The music came forth from a farmer's abode,
His name O Dwyer a D. C. at the board,
A lover of freedom as history knows, 
And his home for the Ballagh War Pipers.

We are famed agitators since the year '81,
And never were absent with the old fife and drum,
And now we have music that's second to none,
Success to the Ballagh War Pipers.

And in the near future I'm proud for to say, 
We'll shake Holycross, Templemore and Dovea,
And break up the ranches without much delay,
By the roll of the Ballagh War Pipers.

It must be remembered we never did fail.
We stormed Dundrum, banished Maude and his tail,  
Till our boys they were captured and cast into jail, 
Played home by the Ballagh War Pipers.

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This poem reflects the joy and unity brought by the Ballagh Warpipers' music but also highlights their role as "famed agitators" and community leaders. The band's performances were more than just entertainment; they were a rallying cry for local causes and a testament to the enduring spirit of the Irish people.

Through initiatives like Irish Piping, we strive to keep such traditions alive, celebrating and sharing the rich history of Irish piping with new generations.

 

References: https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922316/4869431

https://shows.acast.com/653e867d18e0ae00110c2b0b/episodes/the-ballagh-war-pipers