Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Brian Boru Smallpipe
Maker: Hakam Din and Son's
Materials: African Blackwood with Nickel Mounts
The Brian Boru bagpipe is a keyed Irish instrument patented in 1908 by Henry Starck, who designed the instrument in consultation with Irish artist and musician William O'Duane. The typical Brian Boru bagpipe is similar to the Great Highland Bagpipe; it was designed to bridge Great Highland Bagpipes with chromatic capabilities. It features a unique drone setup—often a bass, baritone, and tenor— and it uses a keyed chanter for a wider range, suited for Irish traditional music. This is a smallpipe version of the "Great" Brian Boru bagpipe, with softer reeds, cylindrical bored chanter, and a smallpipe drone setup. It is an unusual creature in that regard, since Starck never intended a smallpipe design for his Brian Boru pipes in the original patents, but the adaptation is sensible enough.
Brian Boru Smallpipe
Maker: Hakam Din and Son's
Materials: African Blackwood with Nickel Mounts
The Brian Boru bagpipe is a keyed Irish instrument patented in 1908 by Henry Starck, who designed the instrument in consultation with Irish artist and musician William O'Duane. The typical Brian Boru bagpipe is similar to the Great Highland Bagpipe; it was designed to bridge Great Highland Bagpipes with chromatic capabilities. It features a unique drone setup—often a bass, baritone, and tenor— and it uses a keyed chanter for a wider range, suited for Irish traditional music. This is a smallpipe version of the "Great" Brian Boru bagpipe, with softer reeds, cylindrical bored chanter, and a smallpipe drone setup. It is an unusual creature in that regard, since Starck never intended a smallpipe design for his Brian Boru pipes in the original patents, but the adaptation is sensible enough.
