Connell Sanderson

Just coming back home after 6 days of absolute joy. We are so gratefull to be now a part of this beautiful family of the @baltimore_fiddle_fair . We had a blast meeting new Musicians from many countries, learning from them and meeting with old friends. @baltimore_fiddle_fair is special for sure. See you next year 🥰 Well done to the great @eddiehennessyphoto for the amazing pictures and the Lovely bodhrán playing ! @grainnebradyfiddle @owenspaffordd @meabhmusic @nathancgy @laura_feds @bee_pypes @eddiehennessyphoto @lisaosull_art @martminfreelunch @dsav87 @sandra__walsh @hannahcollins37 @theonlies @louisb.campbell @

Well well well Here we are again. Praise the Sun, welcome the Summer. Official debut of this incredible cittern from the workshop of Mr. Davy Stuart in New Zealand. Absolutely chuffed to be able to strum this bad boy for many years to come. Hope ye dig it too 😎 🙌 #reedmakersofinstagram #uilleannpipes #cittern #irishtraditionalmusic #tunes

Sunday tunes 🎶✨

Hope you can join us this Sunday 🎶

I've been slowly upping my tech game to make some nice sounding/looking things for the interwebz, and this would be the first such product from the new toys. Most notably is a matched pair of Rode microphones that work an absolute treat for recording the pipes, and just about anything else you stick in front of them! So with that said…… I’m in the process of recording my first solo album! 🥳🥳🥳 It’s totally daunting, and I have no idea when it will be done, but the start of it have taken shape, and soon the entirety of the body of work shall be laid bare for the enjoyment and scrutiny of all. More on that later though. This is The New Found Out. It’s a rockin’ ole tune alright. Never gets old. Happy New Years, by the way. 🥂🪩 Sweet, thanks for listening and catch ya later! #uilleann #uilleannpipes #reedmakersofinstagram #røde #rodemicrophones

The reed in action for #internationaluilleannpipingday2025! A small bit of adjustment, and she’s singing, I’d say. This is The Ladies Cup of Tea from the Goodman Collection! ☕️ Shout out to @uilleanncolleen for the bag and the epic bag cover!!

It’s International Uilleann Piping day once again!! I decided to celebrate by making a reed, and documenting my process for anyone who might be curious! This is the heart of the instrument, and is as much a joy to make as it is an absolute pain! Everyone makes reeds in their own way, and this is my own method that I’ve developed through many, many hours of trial and error. Here’s a breakdown of the process by picture: 1: Let’s make a reed! 🥳 2: It starts with a slip of cane, and a little brass tube called a staple. 3: 📏 I divide the cane into even sections that will form the head and tail of the reed. 4: To the sanding block to shape the inside and smooth the internal surface of the cane. ✨ 5: Cut the slip in half. 🔪 6 & 7: I gouge the “heart” of the reed head. Some call this a “tone chamber”. 8: Tails shaped, bind together. 9: Scrape and sand the tails to remove hard edges. 10: Time to make the two into one. 🙏 11: I like to start really long and cut the reed down as needed. 🪓 12: Bituv tape and hemp 13: There we are now! 😃 14: Shape the scrape, comrade 🔪 15: Sand the scrape with finer and finer grit sandpaper while cutting down the length of the head until I’ve reached the desired length. Add a bridle! 16: That looks like a reed! 🥳 🙌 🎶 17: Happy #IUPD2025!! I’ll make a separate post for the reed in action! So there’s all that! Hope you enjoyed, and good luck to all the pipers and reed makers out there! 🥳 Happy Piping! #uilleann #uilleannpipes #internationaluilleannpipingday2025 #reedmakersofinstagram #uilleannreedmaking #doolin #traditionalmusic #irishtrad

Wherein Pickle chases a fly whilst I play him a merry tune. 🥒 🪰 😙 🎶 🎶 #uilleann #uilleannpipes #irishworldacademy #irishtrad #tunes #irishtraditionalmusic #piping #doolin #pickle

One last blast from the final performance for ye. An excerpt from a set of jigs that myself, @kevinshortall , and @fionnuala_maria lashed out! The first is a rippin’ jig I got from the playing of @dervishofficial called “The Pipers Picnic” and the second is called, “A Tailor I Am” that I picked up from @joeyabarta and @nathancgy on their highly praised recording, Copley Street 2. Thanks to everyone who played with me during this performance, and to all the top notch humans I had to privilege to meet during my two years of study in the MA at the @irishworldacademy !! #uilleann #uilleannpipes #irishworldacademy #irishtrad #tunes #irishtraditionalmusic #piping #fiddle #bouzouki

Another little snippet from the final performance! This is a bit of the air Cape Clear, inspired by the playing of Conor Mallon and Paddy Keenan. After visiting @sadhbhnim on the island of Cape Clear a good number of times, I knew I had to include it in my performance. A massive thanks to @conorbroderickpiano , @estebanfls_trad and @shaysweeneydrums for really bringing the sauce to this piece!! ✨ 🙏 #uilleann #uilleannpipes #irishworldacademy #irishtrad #irishtraditionalmusic #tunes #piping #synth #vibes

Here’s a little clip from my final performance this past June in the @irishworldacademy . I’ll post up some more later, but for now, I wanted to just share this moment, as it’s one of my favourite moments from the performance. This is a lovely little tune called Mary Neil’s that I got from the Goodman Collection, and I really love the arrangement and feeling that @fionnuala_maria and @kevinshortall helped bring to it. I can’t believe it’s already been two months! More to come later. #uilleann #uilleannpipes #irishtrad #irishworldacademy #irishtraditionalmusic #reedmakersofinstagram #fiddle #bouzouki

It’s been a while since I’ve put anything up! Lots has happened, including relocating up to the Banner County for the long haul. I’m happy to say I’m done with college, and am excited for what happens next! 💛💙 Home for me now is just outside of Ennistymon, so I figure this would be a fitting tune to post. Hope ye are well! 😊 #uilleann #uilleannpipes #irishtrad #irishtraditionalmusic #piping #tunes #ennistymon #hupthebanner