The 34th Belfast Piping Tionól
Friday 6 & Saturday 7 March 2026
Workshops, sessions, reed-making, Try the Pipes & Pipers’ Chair
Workshops & sessions with:
Síle Friel · Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn · Robbie Hughes · Patrick O’Hare · Tom Clarke
Whether you’re a long-time piper, brand new learner, or simply love the sound of the pipes, there’s something for everyone.
Full Programme
FRIDAY 6TH MARCH 2026
Madden’s Bar
Piping Session
7.00 – 10.00pm
SATURDAY 7TH MARCH 2026
An Droichead, Belfast
10.00AM – 12.00PM
Uilleann Piping workshop with Síle Friel
Uilleann Piping workshop with Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn
Reed-making workshop with Robbie Hughes
* Total beginners’ class available on request
MIDDAY SESSIONS / LUNCH BREAK
FROM 12.00PM
Try the Pipes with Tom Clarke (till 1pm)
How to Tune the Pipes with Patrick O’Hare (till 1.30pm)
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
2.00PM – 4.00PM
Workshops continue
SATURDAY EVENING
An Droichead
Pipers’ Chair
From 7.30pm
Tom Clarke - Beginner pipes
Tom Clarke is well-known in piping circles. He has been teaching the pipes for many years now and is very skilled in explaining the intricacies of this ancient and beautiful instrument. While the pipes are not the easiest instrument to learn, their music has been an essential component of Irish music for over 300 years. unparalleled. Tom also organises the annual Belfast Piping Tíonol, held every March. In 2005 Tom was honoured to receive an award from Na Píobairí Uilleann in recognition and appreciation of over 30 years of dedicated teaching on the uilleann pipes.
Síle Friel
Sheila Friel was born in Glasgow with family roots firmly entrenched in the Donegal Gaeltacht. She began playing music on tin whistle, then flute for several years, before getting a set of pipes at age 16. Sheila performs and tours the world along with her sisters Anna and Clare, who together comprise the highly regarded traditional group, The Friel Sisters.
Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn
Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn is an award winning Uilleann Piper from Monaghan who has been playing the Uilleann Pipes since the age of nine with Armagh Pipers Club. He has achieved four All-Ireland Fleadh Ceoil titles, two in An t-Oireachtas, and in 2013, the Seán O Riada Bonn Óir award.