An Incredible Tune Played Last Night in Cleveland: Killian Vallely and "Port na bPucai"

Last night, at the Music Box Supper Club in Cleveland's Flats, Cillian Vallely, the great Irish piper (on the Uilleann Pipes/Elbow Pipes), played the tune "Port na bPukai" (yes, that's how it's spelled in Irish Gaelic!). The name of the tune translated into English is something like "Tune of the Faeries." This is the same tune played at Seamus Heaney's funeral a couple years ago. This particular performance from YouTube was from 2008.



Cillian Vallely plays with the Irish group Lunasa. They put on quite a show last night!

Lamentation for Robin Williams--the Irish Uillean Pipes Tune, "Port na bPucai"

When Seamus Heaney's funeral was held last year, a famous Irish uillean piper, Liam O'Flynn, played a wailing lament called "Port na bPucai" ("Tune of the Fairies"). I thought that the tune might be an appropriate lament for Robin Williams, who died this week. These pipes, played here by Cillian Vallely, can have the effect of keening and wailing, an appropriate response to the death of the great actor and comedian.