Our annual Tionol

Literally, a Tionol is ‘a gathering of pipers’. In the 21^stcentury though the name Tionol is mainly used for a day or a weekend of workshops, when a master uilleann piper comes to hand over his skills to less experienced pipers.

The annual Belgian Tionol is a residential weekend, mostly somewhere in the Belgian Ardens, a weekend full of workshops, lots of music, a good atmosphere and always with a great guest piper giving a recital on Saturday night.

23^rd Belgian Tionol

25-27 April 2025, Modave, Belgium

Guest Piper: Catherine Ashcroft

With Catherine Ashcroft, we are pleased to welcome a very talented piper of the younger generation again. She was to come in 2020, but the lockdown forbid it. Same story in 2021. Giving birth to two sons (yes, another generation of future uilleann pipers!) wasn’t helpful either for her to come over to our tionol the last couple of years. But at last, in 2025 nothing will stand in her and our way.

Although born in the North West of England, she has had a passion for Irish music since childhood, and growing up in a musical family she started playing the whistle at an early age before getting her first set of uilleann pipes in her mid teens. Self taught, Catherine regards her early influences as Paddy Keenan, Liam O’Flynn and Cilian Vallely. In 2007 she won All Britain titles on both the whistle and the pipes. Together with multi instrumentalist and singer songwriter Maurice Dickson, she formed the duo Mochara (which means ‘my friend’ in Irish). The pair have since performed on various festivals, folk clubs, theatres and venues all over theworld.

Discography: Take Flight and Follow (2008, solo album), In your blood (2010, Mochara), Spirits and Dreamers (2013, Mochara) and Live at the Island (2015, Mochara)

https://catherineashcroft.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/catherine.ashcroft.3

Michael Boere has become a certitude as our additional teacher. With a lot of patience and equal educational skills, he’s able to hand over simple as well as complicated tunes to his pupils. Of Dutch origin, but living in Ghent, Michael has adopted the uilleann pipes at an early age. He plays with several groups – Project Amai, Trio MD&A, Four of a Kind (which is a trio), Celtic Sparks and Sanseveria - touring in and out Belgium, Holland and abroad.

Michael on Youtube and Face Book:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m35DZi1TmYA

and on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.boere.7

Practical information & Registration

When: From Friday, April 25 (20 pm) till Sunday, April 27 (14 pm) 2025

Where: CENTRE ''LES CENTFONTAINES'' Rue du Centre 20, 4577 Modave, Belgium

(www.lescentfontaines.be) 16 km south of Huy.

Cost: We chose not to raise our prices, but if you want to support our organisation, and assure yourself of future Belgian Tionols, please feel free to pay the support price instead of the basic price!

Pipers: Basic price:195 €, all in.

Support price: 225 €

Partners and children (and other additional guests): Basic price: 95 €

Support price 125 €

Program:

Friday:

arrival from 7 pm onwards + session from 8 pm till bedtime

Saturday:

8.00 am-8.45 am: Breakfast

9.30 am – 12: Workshop Uilleann Pipes

                          Group 1: Catherine; Group 2: Michael

12.30:Lunch

2 pm – 4.30 pm: Workshop Uilleann Pipes

                             Group 1: Michael; Group 2 Catherine

6 pm: Dinner

8 pm.: solo concerts guest pipers + jam session

Sunday:

8.00am-8.45 am: Breakfast

9.30 am – 12: Workshop Uilleann Pipes or free practice

12.30: Lunch

2 pm: pictures + departure

Beginners lessons:

Unexperienced pipers are also welcome on our weekend. They can get suitable lessons from one of the organisers, dependant on their level.

Practical details:

Registration on before is necessary; payment in advance is preferred. Places are limited to maximum 20 participating pipers!

Vegetarian meals can be obtained, but have to be ordered at least one week in advance.

Bring your own sheets, towels, soap and shampoo.

(reservation of sheets is no longer possible!)

Drinks are not included in the price and will have to be paid separately on Sundays, before departure

Attainability:

Modave is close to the E42, exit Huy. Your navigation system knows the way.

Registration:

info@uilleannpipesbelgium.be

Tel: 0032(0)93869711 (Henk Coudenys)

Payment:

Please pay in advance on account BE183770 9286 0965 (bic: BBRUBEBB)of

Peter van Riel, Firbolg, Joos van den Steenelei 67, 2100 Deurne, Antwerpen,Belgium

Firbolg, Association of Uilleann Pipers in Belgium,

Henk Coudenys, Marnix Polfliet, Peter van Riel & Roger de Wouters

Belgian Tionols in the past

1. 2000 Borzée, Seá Óg Potts
2. 2001Borzée, Mick O’Brien
3. 2002 Borzée, Kevin Rowsome
4. 2003 Borzée, Brian McNamara
5. 2004 Borzée, Mickie Smyth
6.2005 Borzée, Séamus Ó Rócháin
7. 2006 Borzée, Tommy Keane
8. 2007 Borzée, Martin Nolan
9. 2008 Borzée, David Power
10. 2009 Borzée, Tiarnán Ó Duinnchin
11. 2010 Belvaux, Emmet Gill
12. 2011 Belvaux, Jimmy O’Brian-Moran
13. 2012 Belvaux, Ronan Browne
14. 2013 Belvaux, Michael Blacky O’Connell
15. 2015 Nevele, Fergus Finnegan
16. 2016 Wepion, Leonard Barry
17. 2017 Modave, Máire NiGhráda
18. 2018 Modave, Diarmaid Moynihan
19. 2019 Modave, Paddy Keenan
20. 2022 Modave, Connor Mallon

21. 2023 Modave, Leonard Barry

22. 2024 Modave, Tara Howley