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Uilleann Piper Kevin Rowsome will this year receive the 'SIGNIFICANT UILLEANN PIPER AWARD' at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast. The presentation will be made at the SEISIÚN MÓR on Thursday, 6th August at 2:45pm.

Kevin is the fifth generation of Rowsome uilleann pipers including the iconic Leo Rowsome.

It is timely that Kevin Rowsome would receive this award as Comhaltas celebrates 75 BLIAIN AG FÁS. Leo and Tom Rowsome were among the founder members of Comhaltas in 1951.

The award originated at the Fleadh in Wexford 2025 when the recipient was Mark Redmond, a proud son of Wexford.

The Significant Piper award was presented by the White family in honour of Tom White who passed away in 2007. Tom was a well known piper maker, one of few in the country, who hailed from Newbawn, Wexford. His uilleann pipes and flutes were in great demand and sold far and wide, not just in Ireland but as far as Japan and the United States. He used mainly hardwoods and ebony imported from Africa for his pipes.

In addition to this, the Newbawn man was also well known at Leinster and All-Ireland Fleadhs, from where he had plenty of medals to show for his considerable talents.

Tom, and the legendary Wexford singer Paddy Berry, both joined Comhaltas at the same time in the 1950's.