Davy Spillane: Caoineadh Cu Chulainn. Uilleann Pipes

Here, in a very beautiful Irish lament, Davy Spillane plays the uilleann pipes as part of Ireland's Riverdance interlude at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, hosted by Ireland.
Caoineadh Cu Chulainn. Irish Gaelic ("Lament For My Son").
Davy Spillane (born 1959 in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish musician, songwriter and a player of uilleann pipes and low whistle.
Uilleann Pipes
The uilleann pipes are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland. Earlier known in English as "union pipes", their current name is a partial translation of the Irish language terms píobaí uilleann (literally, "pipes of the elbow"), from their method of inflation. There is no historical record of the name or use of the term uilleann pipes before the 20th century. It was an invention of Grattan Flood and the name stuck. People mistook the term 'union' to refer to the 1800 Act of Union; this is incorrect as Breandán Breathnach points out that a poem published in 1796 uses the term 'union'.
The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a small set of bellows strapped around the waist and the right arm (in the case of a right-handed player; in the case of a left-handed player the location and orientation of all components are reversed). The bellows not only relieve the player from the effort needed to blow into a bag to maintain pressure, they also allow relatively dry air to power the reeds, reducing the adverse effects of moisture on tuning and longevity. Some pipers can converse or sing while playing. The bag which the bellows fill is clamped under the other elbow, which squeezes the bag to control the flow of air to the reeds (which make the notes).

[@nashmetro8529]

There can be no other musical instrument created by our species that could be more evocative than this. Kudos to all the musicians lending support to this masterpiece.

[@jomurphy1654]

Jaw-droppingly beautiful. To the resurgence of the Irish heart and soul.

[@danielm.taddeo2186]

Had the pleasure of working with Davy 30 years ago. He was simply the nicest dude ever. To this day, I still think he's the best in the world. His sense of melody is unmatched.

[@HillaryHeath-jb1uo]

I had this played at my husband's funeral. It conveys all the wonder and grief.

[@lindaelizabethcole3675]

love , love , love , the music of Davy Spillane and his truly magnificent playing of The Uilleann Pipes , I am sitting in my caravan on the shores of Loch Ryan , playing this absolutely haunting , ethereal , magical , stunning beautiful music , by this majestic maestro , its a dull , warm afternoon and it lifts my spirits ten fold , thank you for sharing 😊❤😊❤😊❤

[@1965sher1]

It is an incredible piece. Caoineadh Cu Chulainn translates as the 'Lament for Cu Chulainn', a hero from Irish legends. His story comes from the great Irish epic, the Táin Bó Cúailnge. Their English name is often 'union pipes', but the Irish piobai uilleann refers to the elbow and the method with which the bag is inflated. The term Uileann Pipes seems to have been coined by William Grattan Flood an Irish musicologist and organist (who also gave the Oxford Book of Carols the Enniscorthy Christmas Carol, often referred to as the Wexford Christmas Carol. As well as the great Davy Spillane here, those interested in hearing some great pipers might search the late Liam O'Flynn, and Mark Redmond.

[@AntPDC]

I'm grateful for your informative comment JPS. Best wishes, and a Merry Christmas to you and yours. Ant.

[@1965sher1]

@@AntPDC ...and you also.

[@shane-irish]

Well said

[@dermymoto]

And Paddy Keenan of the Bothy Band

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😢😢😢😢😢

[@Davidipac]

The only instrument that can cry.

[@rieske2000]

One of the most emotional pieces I have ever heard. A master on the Uilieann pipes. This piece always brings tears to my eyes and I realize how much I miss Eire.

[@AntPDC]

Thank you Ries. Perhaps you will go back there one day. My paternal grandfather was born in County Mayo and I plan to visit next year. A Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[@IRELAND_MY_LOVE]

well I don't miss it. There's a side to the Irish very very few will ever see and especially, experience. I wish I were wrong. Yes I miss Glendalough and the Dublin Mountains with my dogs at night, Grafton St and I miss my kids more than oxygen but I will never ever return, not even in death. However the Uileann pipes and low whistle makes it all a tragedy for me. We move on.

[@shane-irish]

Can listen to this 50 times in a row

[@dermymoto]

​@IRELAND_MY_LOVE what caused your disdain for Ireland? Strange username lol

[@telejim2238]

Im wondering this too haha

[@thedave6153]

This is by far my favorite piece of Irish music. People have told it sounds like funeral music. Which boggles me. This doesn't make me depressed or sad. This is the soulful grateful wailing of someone who is fully and truly free.

[@Lunatraktors]

The sound that weeping yearns to be. Has us in absolute bits every time. We should all give credit to the composer Bill Whelan here too.

[@jansrensen7582]

Amazing soultouching bless you ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jacintacuthbert2307]

Saw the original show in the Point and literally this made me cry.............it was soooo beautiful, the hairs stood on the back of my neck

[@paulaodd4881]

I walked down the aisle 13 years ago to this tune. It was a lament of all the crap I'd gone through...only to come out the other side...I get goosebumps every time I hear it now (hubby and I have been going on strong for 13 years now, with no sign of slowing down).

[@grose2272]

Reminds me of early 90s Ireland as a child, we're truly alive back then and didn't know what we had❤

[@luvtogroove]

I made sure it was played at my beloved mums funeral

[@Paul-hy5kd]

Same here for my father ❤

[@HillaryHeath-jb1uo]

The Scots are like the Irish - good at laments.

[@riverstun]

I chose /watch?v=oDgALX5HRi0

[@WWELOT]

This song reminds off my beautiful mom god I love you and miss you so much ❤️ 💗 💕 💛 ♥️ 😘 ❤️ 💗

[@jansrensen7582]

Wonderfull blessed thanks you. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jordanhamilton50]

The high octave is so beautiful, must be the fact that the uilleann pipes are my favorite instrument ever.

[@frankrawl8705]

Incredible.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Truely incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jamesgourlaytubaist]

Wonderfully evocative.

[@hyweljthomas]

Sublime

[@nardopereirapinto3760]

I'm from Brazil, but I love IRELAND! THE EMERALD ISLE GRÁ MO CHROÍ!

[@RogerFarrell-oc5pe]

The national pipe of Ireland.

[@AntPDC]

We get it. It's in the Description.

[@kybalion1367]

Riverdance is 30 years old now. This was the best part of the show.

[@a5athome]

He who invented the uilleann pipe must be in heaven by now ❤😊

[@user-kb3zn5hq1w]

What a talent not an easy instrument to play to that standard amazing.

[@isomnivinsjr.5817]

Just love this piece, so haunting and beautiful. Fills every part of you.

[@pjaygeorge8016]

Once again , Anthony, you have opened my eyes/ears to music/performance never previously heard. Thank you.

[@AntPDC]

Thank you Peter. I well recall being very taken by this performance when i first saw it all those years ago, especially since I have close family roots in Eire. I hope you are doing well and wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Goodness knows, we all need it!

[@coxy2881]

Beautifully played - what talent.

[@BirdYoumans]

The pipes - the pipes are calling.

[@pauldockree9915]

Paddy Moloney RIP I bump into Davy Spillane all over the place. Wondrous player of Uilleann Pipes. Many a tear shed watching this VT. Enya. As we all blather about being undervalued. Red Espresso Logic was it? Both By Chris Rea and Mike Oldfield The Voyager album and Sir Karl Jenkins' Adiemus The Eternal Knot. Check them out. That is what is called evidence of a musical taste. It can be critiqued but not by cries of it is not true. Red is colour I'd choose Deepest red on a sky of deepest blue It don't matter now if I should win If I should win or lose 'Cos red is colour I'd choose If I waste my time away waiting just for you I don't care what others say 'Cos baby I just love, love what you do

[@anabelfombuenabelmonte726]

Esto es musica

[@TheBlueskyson]

Beautiful. ty ant and dave

[@shane-irish]

Best part off riverdance

[@begonaledo463]

Emocionante

[@sandrabrennan6730]

Stunning

[@eugeneclasby518]

Amazing!

[@adrianhalpin5199]

Mum...Beautifully!

[@anabelfombuenabelmonte726]

Extraordinario

[@MBuck-iw7qn]

Wow!!

[@thomaselliott5035]

just a wow

[@SeanBunting-qp6sb]

Wee are One of the 12 tribes of isreal....harp of Ireland.....king Davids lyre.......food for thought

[@genghisthegreat2034]

Píobaireacht den scoth ón mháistir ar bhárr a' cheird. Mar mhil sa chlúas dúinn.

[@AntPDC]

Go raibh maith agat as do thrácht.

[@riverstun]

If you like this, more Uillean pipes at 2:00 in this Enya song /watch?v=TqfFWQq7sLM

[@eugeneclasby518]

Who wrote this music?

[@eugeneclasby518]

Answer: Bill Whelan. Very beautiful!

[@RogerFarrell-oc5pe]

I never tought of myself in whose ancestors are islanders. Were island people. Ireland is an island. Were not mainlanders or whatever. The Farrell's were from county Longford.

[@pauldockree9915]

Cuchulainn's lament? Yes I suppose. The Her Mit of The Sea Rock is not chuffed either Sir Karl Jenkins. No offence.