Patrick Sky: Uilleann Pipe Maker - Spruce Pine, NC

In the mountains of North Carolina, Patrick Sky makes and repairs bagpipes. He is responsible for bringing Irish Uilleann pipes back from the brink of extinction. This segment was produced for Time Warner Cable's show, Around Carolina.

[@germon49]

RIP Patrick. To say I was crushed to hear of your passing is an understatement. Thanks for letting me ride that old folkie train from the 60's

[@DragonflySigns]

So sad to hear this news. I have loved him since the 60s… I have been riding that same folk train since way back also. RIP Patrick😢

[@fougee1]

Rest easy Patrick you brought many happy times to so many. I remember playing one of your LP's back in the 60's. And people would ask who is that? I 'd answer it's The Sky Man.

[@Jm01394]

Thanks Patrick. Mahogany Row and Many A Mile. You and Jack Elliot and Eric Anderson were the first lps I spent money for!

[@nightimelady]

Patrick we love you man!! Your songs made america famous!

[@Goetterdaemmerung86]

RIP, an important piping figure

[@inlandonline]

I saw Patrick at the Pipers' Club in Dublin, Autumn 1976. The man has some depth!

[@kinkle_Z]

I will never forget that illicit ivory run to a nondescript darkened late night suburban home in New Jersey I made (unbeknownst to me) with Patrick Sky in the early 70s. He was doing it, as he told me in the car, because he needed ivory to make his Uilleann pipes. God - I loved that crazy guy! I was so privileged to know him. Great memories. Love and respect to his twins and his beautiful fiddling wife! He was a national treasure.

[@jesterh]

So wonderful to see this video of you and Kathy. Great job on the explaination and demonstration of the pipes. See you soon I hope.

[@ericashmusic8889]

Hi Guys nice post, & much credit to Patrick ,..But !! Uilleann pipes will never die out as long as Ireland is in the Irish sea.

[@lokotasioux]

I'm so pleased with what you've contributed.

[@MickTheQuickk]

Yes, this is Patrick Sky; folkie supreme from 1965: Patrick Sky - Patrick Sky (Full Album)

[@garylane3921]

I learned on a David Daye chanter starting at 51 years old. I loan my David Daye practice set to any who are interested in trying out uilleann pipes. Lessons greatly speed up learning. Now I have a 3/4 Kirk Lynch D and a full Brad Angus B flat set. Thanks for posting a little history. David Daye makes reeds that simply play well and are stable. I am impressed by how stable Brad Angus reeds have been as well.

[@cbasalt12754]

You say you loan out your set?

[@bochiecrappa4670]

thank you for doing this and keep the instrument alive. that means alto to me, thank you

[@NotAFanAnymore]

Pat, you are the Man

[@glenngodin4175]

Agreeing with germon49 below I was a bit overwhelmed today to hear Pat hit the highroad almost 2 years ago now. He influenced me like no other guitar player (save Van Ronk) back in the 60"s. I bumped into Pat walking down the road in Asheville back in 1985/86 and we sat on a stone wall for a bit and reminisced. I loved that guy! 💗

[@peterdunworth3811]

Great story! Love it!

[@bigmikeydread]

No mention of his music career and lps and connections. Only just discovered him, and mighty impressed by this chap..

[@BowTieGuyUK2000]

For someone who saw him several times in London in the 1960s and still have ALL his records, this man was (and still is) a Legend. Good to see him in good health!

[@JoeMode213]

Appears to be enjoying himself more than ever too. ;)

[@sponiebr]

Pat Sky's books are phenomenal, I HIGHLY recommend "Ryan's Mammoth Collection 1050 Reels and Jigs." Pat did us an ENORMOUS favour by compiling this book.

[@MondschreiBand]

Sounds so great, can´t stop listening *-*

[@zacharypaik2463]

RIP

[@inlandonline]

Yes!

[@Dayepipes]

Actually it's not that difficult to play if everything about the craft of the instrument you bought is working properly. It is a gentry's instrument, not a peasant's bagpipe, it's the daughter of the sister of the original octave jumping oboe, steeped in European woodwind making craft. But incredibly rare. Pat was a key to helping the instrument survive to the Shareware Age, stepping in 2 decades before the web. I made a key nnovation but it couldn't happen without Pat first.

[@balddonaldcerrone7930]

Dayepipes well i don’t know about you but i certainly do not find it easy to play

[@paddyearly]

Well done Patrick🇮🇪✅

[@gt350kr]

God Bless You Patrick! I enjoyed this video and wish I had time to learn on my practice set and one day move up to my half set. Seeing this video has been an encouragement to me.

[@dean84921]

Not to be a debbie downer but if you're no longer playing would you be interested in selling them? Or do you know where I could get a set of practice pipes?

[@llewen123]

Play Nectar of Gods!!!

[@aikidragonpiper71]

I play the highland pipes but I love all types of pipes. I've thought of learning other types like the Uilleann pipes,Border Pipes,Shuttle Pipes or Northumbrian Pipes. A man let me try his Northumbrian Pipes and he tried my highland pipes. He was able to play highland pipes but my hands and finger were to large to play them . They had a beautiful sound . How small is the chanter and holes on Uilleann pipes ?

[@Marcblur]

The finger stretch on a wide bore uilleann chanter is actually a little bit more than the highland pipes. Northumbrian pipes are a tight squeeze, so much so, you have to play with finger tips instead of how we play the big pipes. You'd probably have the easiest time with border pipes or shuttle pipes(Scottish smallpipes).

[@autodelete66]

Is this the same Patric Sky of Folk Music of 40 yrs ago ?

[@concertinachick]

He is!

[@davestambaugh7282]

I have heard that highland pipes do not have the range because they use a wet reed as the elbow pipes use a dry reed which is supposed to be capable of higher tonal range.

[@hendrixplek]

Rip

[@beatusqui]

Is it usual for the chanter to be sanded internally?

[@luismunozmunoz1952]

good

[@thehurdygurdyweeklyhgweekl8107]

sharing to #HGWeekly :)

[@JustinBarylski]

Im a highland piper myself, and I’m debating making the jump and trying out playing Uilleann pipes

[@cbasalt12754]

Uilleann pipes- The only thing that people try out for 1500 dollars🤣😂

[@markdearborn1828]

In a place that's far over the ocean............ (-;

[@davidbyrhtnoth375]

Bringing Uillean pipes from the bring of of extinction? SERIOUSLY? If he interviewed any Irish people, as purported, they were most probably indulging in a wee bit of a joke. They are indeed a most playfully inventive people when it comes to having "a bit of fun"! There is no way on this planet that Patrick Sky saved Uiilleann Pipes from total extinction. This suggestion (sorry) is seriously totally BS of the highest order.