Coppers and Brass (S1) – Irish Travellers and Traditional Irish Music

Coppers and Brass is an ethnographic documentary about Irish traditional music played by members of the Irish Travelling community. It focuses on uilleann pipe playing in particular, demonstrating how Irish Travellers exhibit specific stylistic traits within Irish traditional music. It includes rare archival footage, reconstructions of significant musical events and interviews with key Traveller and non-Traveller musicians. It was directed by Tommy Fegan and was submitted as part of his MA thesis undertaken at Dundalk Institute of Technology.

This is the first episode of season one of DCTV’s traditional Irish music series called “Coppers and Brass”. The series focuses on alternative viewpoints within the traditional Irish music community, looks at the contributions certain families have made and analyses how Irish Travellers have made a very significant contribution to the development of Irish traditional music. Presented by Tommy Fegan, this series explores the reality of the world of trad in Ireland and abroad.

In this episode we look at Irish Traveller culture featuring insightful interviews with Martin Collins, Co-Director of Pavee Point, Michael McDonagh and a performance from The Cobblestone Pub with Seán Gilrane & Davy Sheridan.

In this episode we will look at the influence of the Doran Family, chat to Oliver O’Connell and enjoy a performance from The Cobblestone Pub with Oliver O’Connell and friends.

In this episode we will look at the impact and contribution Irish traveller culture has had on traditional Irish music, focusing on Uileann piping and featuring an insightful interview with Mickey Dunne and a performance from The Cobblestone Pub with Martin Nolan and friends.

In this episode we will look at the impact of Irish traveller Uileann piping on traditional Irish music featuring an insightful interview with Leo Rickard and a performance from The Cobblestone Pub with Gay McKeon.

In this episode we will look at the work of Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU) with Gay Mc Keon and enjoy a performance from The Cobblestone Pub with Fintan Vallely.

In this episode we will look at the Mulligan Family with Néillidh Mulligan and a performance from The Cobblestone Pub with Mulligan family.


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