"It was a golden time for Irish music"? It is "...a golden time for Irish music" NOW, as well. The number of young, very talented, pipers, harpists and other instrumentalists coming up is wonderful to see. The fact that a large proportion of them are females is more wonderful yet. The future of our traditional music is in very good hands.
Someone who heard Planxty live [among many other "traditional" groups] said that if you had the right mind- and heart-set their's was the only music that could make you cry by merely listening to them live.
Would of loved to learned these but the price of even a half set is absolutely ridiculous a one time peasant instrument gone to the upper class who can afford them
Find a pipers club closest to you, go to tionols/meetings. I'm pretty sure people have bits lying around, especially if there are pipe makers in the group. You can "glue" together a pretty good practise set from bits and bobs if you pay attention. =) the best thing you could do is befriend a pipemaker. lol
