CD Review: 'An Phib' - Uilleann Pipes Irish MusicHere is a hugely interesting player in the ‘gentleman’ mode, greatly involved with his instrument and all its wondrous potential, particularly on airs. A soft spot for the harmonic is there in keyboard chordal drones, and adventuring into didgeridoo shows he is not shy of experiment. This is rather overwhelming, but if Paddy O’Brien’s is humourously zany, and his tricks on ‘Ask my Father’ approach stuck CD precision, curios like using regulator for melody notes and a great launneddas-like blast at times leave little room for tedium. His obsession with the technicalities of tight fingering and regulator effects is a constant lift – in moments pure Clancy or again Ennis, on perfectly tuned, high quality instruments. Irish Sunday Tribune Fintan Vallely Dublin'An Phib' - Uilleann Pipes Irish Music: this must-have recording of Traditional Irish Uilleann Piping is performed in the parlour/gentleman mode of the 19th century and was released with the assistance of Na Piobaire Uilleann, Dublin, at the Willie Clancy Festival, Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, Ireland. It is especially an album for all those who appreciate the intricacy, drive and raw unfettered emotion which emanates from this highly expressive Irish Instrument. A veritable hive of honeyed sound."Consumate Piper"..........fRoots Magazine"UIlleann Piping in the concentrated style of the great Seamus Ennis"...........Wire Magazine"...Dicky Deegan'd, a term used to describe the stunning effect of the man's playing on the senses of the uninitiated"....Living Tradition Magazine"..in moments pure Clancy or again Ennis, on perfectly tuned, high quality instruments"...Fintan Vallely, Irish Sunday TribuneDicky Deegan began playing Traditional Irish Music in the mid 1960's (in the home) and then through Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (tin whistle and flute) in the early to late 1970's at St Joseph's, Luton, and The London Irish Centre, Camden Town. His father (Ned) hails from Emo, Co Laois and his mother (Bridget) from Adamstown, Co Wexford. He has been playing the Uilleann pipes for over 30 years, favouring the somewhat lesser known Union pipes 'gentleman' mode of playing. He has performed solo Uilleann/Union pipes at the Sydney Opera House in addition to being an invited guest soloist (by the Australian Chamber Orchestra) to perform in the prestigious (and acoustically magnificent) 'Barrel Room' at the Huntington Music Festival in New South Wales. Back in 1994, Dicky Deegan performed a unique 'one-off' Uilleann pipes concert from on TOP of the Sydney Opera House Sails as part of the Opera House’s landmark 'coming-of-age' 21st Birthday celebrations. He regularly appeared throughout the 80' and 90's at many of the major Australian Folk/World/Irish Music Festivals in addition to performing throughout the 00'ties to the present day for numerous Music Festivals/recitals/sessions throughout Europe, Ireland and the UK. He has also performed for the BBC (UK), RTE and Raidio na Gaeltachta (Ireland), Canal+ (France), SBS TV/Radio, ABC TV/Radio and Classic FM (Australia.) Dicky has also recently played in London for film producer Guy Richie (Sherlock Holmes), Jude Law, Piers Morgan, Anya Hindmarsh and Stella McCartney (and friends!).