Rowsome Tradition

Samuel Rowsome

(1825 – 1915)

Samuel Rowsome of Ballintore, Co Wexford, whose hospitable home sheltered many a wandering minstrel in times of stress and stringency.

John Rowsome

“For power of extracting a strong, voluble tone from the chanter, and imparting a beautiful expression to the music, he has few peers and certainly no superior.”

JohnRowsome
William Rowsome
(1870 – 1925)

William Rowsome

“the spirit of the music was in the performer, unmistakably, for while he touched the keys of the regulators airily and in good rhythm, his eyes sparkled with animation and his whole anatomy seemed to vibrate with a buoyancy which found suitable expression in the clear tones of his chanter.

Thomas Rowsome

“We are reliably informed that Thomas Rowsome is not inferior to his brother William as a performer on the Union pipes. In fact, some are inclined to believe that, in rendering Irish airs with the manipulation of the regulators, Thomas has the advantage.”

“We are reliably informed that Thomas Rowsome is not inferior to his brother William as a performer on the Union pipes. In fact, some are inclined to believe that, in rendering Irish airs with the manipulation of the regulators, Thomas has the advantage.”

Thomas Rowsome

Thomas Rowsome
(1868 – 1928)

Samuel Rowsome Jnr
(1895 – 1951)

Samuel Rowsome Jnr

This young musical aspirant, on whom will depend to a considerable degree the preservation of his art, is the eldest son of William Rowsome, piper and pipemaker of Harold’s Cross, Dublin, and grandson of Samuel Rowsome of Ballintore, Wexford, elsewhere mentioned.

Leo Rowsome

In 1919 at the age of sixteen he was appointed teacher of the uilleann pipes at Dublin’s Municipal School of Music (now Dublin Institute of Technology Conservatory of Music and Drama) for 50 years.

Leo Rowsome
(1903 – 1970)
Tom Rowsome
(1907 – 1974)

Tom Rowsome

(1907 – 1974)

Tom Rowsome was an accomplished uilleann piper. He played alongside his brother Leo in the Rowsome quartet. Tom played a major role in the foundation of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

Leon Rowsome

Leon Rowsome, eldest son of Leo achieved notoriety as a piper at a young age. He played with the Rowsome Quartet with Willie Clancy, Leo and Sean Seery. During his lifetime, Leon made two uilleann piping recordings, with Waltons and Dolphin Discs

Leon Rowsome
(1936 – 1994)
Kevin Rowsome
(1963 – )

Kevin Rowsome

Kevin is an award winning Uilleann Piper and composer. He has gained vast experience as a performer and instructor of the uilleann pipes, performing extensively and lecturing and instructing at a number of traditional music festivals throughout Europe and USA.

Tierna Rowsome,
Naoise Rowsome,
Mark (Rowsome) Lyghast,
Luke (Rowsome) McGranaghan,
Alistar (Rowsome) McGranaghan

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