This is a very rare photo of Micho Russell playing the tin whistle on what is known locally in Doolin as The Piper’s Chair. This photo was taken by American photographer Jill Freedman (RIP). I discovered this image in Jill Freedman’s book “A Time That Was: Irish Moments by Jill Freedman” published in 1987 by Merehurst Press. The caption for this photo in the book reads:
“Micho Russell is a farmer well-known for his whistle-playing. Sometimes he hears a tune in the wind. “Like some kind of fairy music”, he said. ” It might be coming in on a concertina or a whistle, or whatever’d be playing around the caves and cliffs. And I’d pick it up that way.” He sits on the Pipers Chair, an ancient rock in his field overlooking the Cliffs of Moher. There is a fairy ring around it. Some say they’ve heard the pipes, and seen the fairies glowing in the moonlight, dancing round and round the rock.”
Sincere thanks to Jill’s daugthers Susan and Nancy for allowing the use of this image for The Russells of Doolin Website.
The reproduction of this image is not allowed. All Rights Reserved to the Jill Freedman Irrevocable Trust.
