Draft:Mícheál Ó’Cíanáin (Michael Keenan)

Mícheál Ó’Cíanáin or Michael Keenan - also know as The Shercock Piper - was a famous player and maker of uilleann pipes from Glasleck, Shercock, Co Cavan in Ireland.

Mícheál was born on 14 September 1896 in Glasleck, a townland just outside Shercock, where he resided until his death on 23 March 1978. He is buried in the graveyard of St Patrick’s Church in Shercock. A headstone in old Irish marks his burial place.

From his early days, he was a well known and well respected piper and maker of bagpipes. He made both uilleann pipes and Great Highland Bagpipes, which he made to order and exported internationally, especially to the United States.

It was reported that he said that he had to begin making uilleann pipes when very young, because he couldn’t afford to buy any. He played his first public engagement in 1907. After he began pipe making, he grew his customer base all over the UK, Europe and North America. He was known as a meticulous craftsman.

He never married, and so had no one to whom he then might pass on his skills.

In 1917-1918 he was in The Killann Pipers Band and also, in 1917, he helped to form and to train The O’Rahilly Pipe Band.

He was active in piping, pipe making, and in and with several bands well on into his 70s. His home in Glasleck was well known as a welcoming place where one could always drop in and talk about and play the music.

Mícheál wrote to the editor of the Capuchin Annual in 1942 about a local tradition regarding the Bishop of Kilmore, Andrew Campbell (1711-1769), who was known as the ‘The Piper Bishop’ during the Penal laws. A copy of the letter and a signed photo of Mícheál can be seen on the Catholic Archives here.

Mícheál featured in a 1968 RTÉ documentary, Féach, where he talked about his career. It can be seen on the RTE archives.

Jason Rouse, an Irish artist and musician, published a YouTube video about Michael in 2022 which you can watch here.

==== Burial Place ==== Mícheál is buried in the graveyard of St Patrick's Church in Shercock. A headstone marks his burial place with the following inscription in old Irish:

I ndíl cuimhne (EN: In memory of) Mícheál O’Cíanáin - Piper (Michael Keenan - Piper) Glasleach (EN: Glasleck) A fuair bás ar an (EN: Who died on) 23 Márta 1978 (EN: 23 March 1978)