William F. Maher
tailor, piper
b. County Waterford 1862
d. Bridgeport, Connecticut Nov. 7, 1931
"Maher William F.; Ryan James Sol. Young Photographer [New York] 01/01/1915"
"Description on reverse of photograph: Wm. J. Maher, Bridgeport, Conn. and James Ryan, Bridgeport, Conn., 1915. Liam Ua Meachair, Táilliúir, Cala an Droichid." Ceol na hÉireann Irish Music No. 1 1993 p. 11
Photo in the Tom Busby collection of photographs, at Na Píobairí Uilleann.
Michael Kelly translates the Irish as "William Maher, Tailor, Bridgeport."
In eighteenth and nineteenth century Ireland the Irish bagpipes attracted several men who were remembered as "gentlemen pipers." They were socially and economically well established; landlords, sportsmen, or members of a profession. Their playing was mostly in private, and seldom if ever for money. Some were described as excellent musicians. A few are still remembered for the tunes they wrote, as with Walker "Piper" Jackson (d. 1798), who wrote "Jackson's Morning Brush."
William Maher seems a twentieth-century American version of a gentleman piper. He was at least comfortably well-off, ran his own business, and enjoyed social status in his community. Almost all of his known piping engagements were for Irish organizations, and were probably done without pay, although this is not a certainty.
Maher was born in County Waterford, Ireland and baptised in the Roman Catholic parish of Newcastle on May first, 1862. His parents were John Maher and Margaret Hart Maher. William emigrated to the United States in 1884 or 1885, about 22 years old. He gravitated to Bridgeport, Connecticut and began to be listed in city directories in 1890. He lived in Bridgeport the rest of his life. Maher was a tailor by trade, "Ladies' and Gent's Tailor Made Suits To Order," and had his own shop by 1896. He married Bridget Ormond about 1887. They had eight surviving children. The eldest, William F. Jr., worked at the tailor shop and was shop manager by 1921.
Bridgeport is a city about 50 miles (80 km) east of New York City. During the years Maher lived there Bridgeport was a thriving industrial center and port. Growth was constant; population was 48,800 in 1890, 147,000 in 1930.
Maher was active in local Irish organizations; the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Emmet Club, the United Irish Society, for examples. Starting in 1910, Maher is mentioned in newspapers as playing bagpipes at events sponsored by these and other organizations. For example, in June 1911 Maher "rendered selections upon the bagpipes" at an entertainment and banquet held by the Ladies Auxiliary of the A. O. H. In April 1914 "William Maher played the Irish pipes and members of the club tripped some of the old country dances" at a meeting of the Emmett Club. There are occasional references to engagements like these until 1921.
James Ryan, the piper to the right in the photo above, is mentioned as playing with Maher for at least two engagements. Ryan also played fiddle.
Little is known about when or where Maher learned to play the pipes. In 1916 "a set of genuine Irish bag pipes," owned by Maher, was displayed in the window of a local clothing store. "It is several generations old, and has been in the Maher family longer than the present members know."
That same year Maher was struck by an automobile as he was waiting for a trolley car at State and Broad Streets. He sued the company owning the auto for injuries received. "As he was about to board the car he was struck by the defendants' machine and hurled to the ground. Bagpipes worth $300 [about $6,800 in 2019], which he was carrying, were destroyed, Maher says. He accuses the defendants of negligence." The outcome of the suit is not known.
Maher was a friend of well-known Brooklyn piper Michael Carney. When Maher died Carney "acquired" his Taylor-style set of pipes from Maher's widow. The set was made by Robert Hutton. It later passed to Tom Busby and then to a piper in Ireland, where it remains. The Maher/Ryan photograph, reproduced above, was among Carney's possessions. After Carney died it came to Tom Busby, then was later given to Na Píobairí Uilleann.
There is some evidence that Maher had an abiding interest in the Irish language. Although US Census records suggest that English was the language used at his home in Ireland, there are references to William Maher, probably the piper, active in organizing classes in Gaelic in Bridgeport and New Haven. A Gaelic Literary Class was organized in Bridgeport in 1922. "... classes in the Gaelic language are now forming in charge of William F. Maher and Patrick Boyle, local Gaelic scholars."
William Francis Maher died of cancer in 1931, about 68 years old. He is buried with other family members at Saint Michael's Cemetery, Stratford, CT.
A big thank you to Michael Kelly of Dublin for sharing information about William F. Maher.
Selected References
B. B. [Breandán Breathnach] "Tom Busby, New York" [Maher set of pipes to Carney] An Píobaire vol. 1 no. 2 Meitheamh [June] 1969 p. 6
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1010&mediaId=25879
"Class In Gaelic To Be Formed By Local Students" Bridgeport [CT] Times and Evening Farmer Feb. 22, 1922 p. 2 column 3
Library of Congress Chronicling America
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92051227/1922-02-22/ed-1/seq-2/
"Ladies Auxiliary of the A. O. H. Takes In Many New Members" Bridgeport [CT] Evening Farmer June 19, 1911 p. 4 column 3
Library of Congress Chronicling America
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022472/1911-06-19/ed-1/seq-4/
"The Letters of Natalie" [advertisement describing father and son as tailors] Bridgeport [CT] Telegram June 1, 1921 p. 11 column 4
Access Newspaper Archive
O'Brien Moran, Jimmy "Jackson, Walker" The Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland University College Dublin Press 2013 vol. 1 p. 540
O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians Chicago 1913 pp. 180-193 [Gentlemen Pipers]
"Real Irish Bagpipe Displayed in Store" Bridgeport [CT] Evening Farmer March 17, 1916 p. 13 column 6
Library of Congress Chronicling America
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022472/1916-03-17/ed-1/seq-13/
"Social and Personal" [a wedding anniversary shower with Maher playing pipes, Ryan violin] Bridgeport [CT] Evening Farmer June 10, 1911 p. 4 column 2
Newspapers.com
"Tailor Injured by Auto Brings $10,000 Action" Bridgeport [CT] Evening Farmer March 30, 1916 p. 1 column 4
Library of Congress Chronicling America
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022472/1916-03-30/ed-1/seq-1/
"Thomas Ashe Tells of Ulster Conditions" [playing for dancers at Emmet Club meeting] Bridgeport [CT] Evening Farmer April 22, 1914 p. 3 column 2
Library of Congress Chronicling America
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022472/1914-04-22/ed-1/seq-3/
"W. F. Maher, Ladies' and Gent's Tailor Made Suits To Order." Bridgeport, CT city directory 1896 p. 766 [advertisement]
Ancestry.com
Nick Whitmer
November 2019