On the 5th of May 2011 Clones Community Forum invited Ian Burrows to play his Scottish Smallpipes at their A.G.M. and launch of their programme 'Looking Back To Move Forward' (funded by the International Fund for Ireland).The organisers had also invited Uilleann Piper Tiarnán O Dunnchainn to play.
The venue was the Cuil Darach lounge bar and restaurant on Fermanagh Street in Clones. Ian met Tiarnán just before the meeting started in the function room and they hastily discussed tunes and musical arrangements, it was amazing the repertoire of Scottish and Irish jigs and reels both pipers had in common which goes to prove just how much of both music traditions pipers learn and play. Tiarnán suggested a few modern compositions by the Great Highland Bagpiper Gordon Duncan and Ian suggested a few Irish jigs! From these suggestions they put together a set list. With never having met or played before, the organisers suggested they play solo and then hopefully finish off with a duet. The pipes and music were so compatible that the pipers played one solo each and then played as a duet the rest of the evening!
At the end of the performance the forum Chairman Eugene T. Hamill approached Ian and Tiarnán, complimented them on their music and playing and said 'they are the pipes of peace.' That comment was the catalyst that inspired the project.