Donnchadh Ó Sé

An Piobaire Buí

Donnchadh Ó Sé from Lóthar was one of the best pipers in the parish of Priory. He had the ceol sí. One night he and his brother Dónall were gathering seaweed at Faill an Mhada Rua when they heard the most beautiful music. Dónall stood rooted to the spot in terror but Donnchadh followed it up the cliff until he had every note correctly When they returned home he put on the pipes and played it but if he did he was in no hurry to repeat the performance. He was struck down ill and was confined to bed for three months. Any time afterwards he played it he suffered for it; the illness always followed. On one occasion he was ordered at gunpoint to play it but the ruffian who demanded it, ignorant of the music, was fobbed off with "An Giolla Rua'.

Padraig a Chasuir had a tune or piece which Donnchadh Ó Sé coveted but which Padraig made certain never to play in any company when Donnchadh was present. One dark night Donnchadh hid himself in a bush at the end of Padraig's house and some time during the night the tune was played and Donnchadh picked up every note of it. On leaving his place of concealment he made some noise, the piper inside heard it and guessing the truth rushed to the door with a shotgun. He fired several rounds at the fleeing figure but luckily the night was too dark to permit a good aim. On the following Sunday at Muing an Bhutléaraigh where the youth of the three parishes met to dance Donnchadh had the temerity to lead off with this very tune. He was savagely attacked and almost killed by Padraig a Chasuir. Donnchadh O Sé played on the pipes the day he left for America. His brother, Dónall, was a poor piper; he was nicknamed 'Cipini Aitinn' (furze sticks) he played so badly.

The ‘High Road to Loher’ Jig came to the Binneas Collection via Paud Collins (Loher). His wife Phil, was a direct descendant of Donnchadh Ó Sé through her Father, John O’Shea. It is believed that this tune was from the Repertoire of Donnachadh.

An occasion in Glenmore that was recounted in ‘It all Happened’ by Seamus Fenton gives us the names of three of the tunes in Donnchadh’s repertoire.

The evening was given over to the Rosary, a short religious talk and the telling of great stories like the Opuroean Caoptain. The priest himself read Ossianic lays for the receptive and appreciative audience, and Donnchadh O'Shea, specially invited, piped martial airs like Gol na mBan san ár, Rose Catha na Mumhan, Taisteal na Blárnan, with many other traditional airs and cherished melodies.