Alan is a native of West Penwith in Cornwall, now residing in Bath. He has been playing Uilleann Pipes and making reeds for over 20 years. His reputation as a reedmaker has continued to grow as have his skills and knowledge.
Alan learned the core of his reedmaking from Cillian O'Briain, but also refers to his earlier learning with Dave Williams, Peter Hunter and Dave Hegarty as key points in his journey.
Over the years, Alan has taught reedmaking individually and at many piping gatherings including the Willie Clancy Summer School, Dave Williams Memorial Weekend, NWUP Tionol and has been pretty much resident reedmaker for nearly 10 years with the South West Association of Uilleann Pipers, the club that provided him the opportunities to further learn the many crafts of Uilleann Piping.
Alans piping is also well known in the UK, having worked with James Fagan & Nancy Kerr, Afterhours, Cara Dillon, Fianna, Baka Beyond etc.,. His playing has appeared on BBC TV and Radio (who could forget his appearance alongside Doc Shiels summoning Sea Monsters off the Coast of Cornwall??), and is documented on many CD recordings. He can even be found on the internet somewhere.
As a real job, Alan is an ICT support monkey and spends his spare time writing anything that seems like a good idea at the time, walking in the lushest parts of nature, and entertaining and nurturing his 2 children and his wife.
Alan plays a concert pitch set of pipes made by Cillian O'Briain of Dingle, County Kerry, Eire.
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