Instrument makers’ exhibition

The Courthouse Gallery in Ennistymon will host an exhibition celebrating the work of three of the most innovative traditional musicians and instrument makers in the country; Paul Dooley (harp), Martin Doyle (flute) and Davy Spillane (uilleann pipes).
In conjunction with the year of the craft, the exhibition will offer the visitor a multi-media experience of film, photography and audio, as well as a chance to see a display of the exquisitely crafted instruments made by each of these musicians.
Paul Dooley is one of the leading exponents of the Irish harp in its historical form, having studied the construction of medieval Irish harps in Dublin during the early 1980s. He started his performing career on the metal-strung harp in 1986 and has appeared on numerous CD recordings and television soundtracks, his latest recording is called The Harpers Fancy.
In 2005 Martin Doyle moved from Bray to Clare, where from his workshop he makes flutes for musicians worldwide. His love of flute making carries an aspiration for the progression of the craft.
“I like to strive to transcend my capacities and therefore my results. It’s important to me that the contemporary flutes keep evolving and giving us new horizons, that’s the real joy of this work. My feeling is that we should never stop striving for the better good in any field of endeavour,” he said.
In the mid-’70s Davy Spillane started his uilleann pipe-making apprenticeship with Johnny Burke in Bray and by 1988 Davy had made his own set of uilleann pipes.
These pipes are made of sterling silver, African blackwood, ebony and ivory. 1988 being the Millennium Year in Dublin, all the silver parts were individually hallmarked in Dublin Castle and received the Millennium hallmark unique to that year.
This is the instrument that Davy has played on all his recordings and performances from when they were made to the present time and is the instrument on display. 
Photographer Christy McNamara, well known for his photographs of traditional musicians, will be collaborating in the exhibition with a series of commissioned photographs. Also included will be a short film made by Packmule Films documenting each of the musicians at work in their workshops. In conjunction with North Clare Historical Society, there will be a lecture Monday, November 21 at 8pm by Eugene Lambe.
The exhibition takes place from November 19 to 26 between 11am and 4pm.