What is the difference betwenn uilleann pipes and Lowland Bagpipes?

Answer 1

According to the website below:

"Highland Bagpipes are played standing, uilleann pipes are played sitting. Highland Bagpipes are for the outdoors, uilleann pipes are for indoor playing. Highland Bagpipes are a military instrument. Uilleann pipes are a social instrument.

Among the hundreds of bagpipes that were once in existence, as well as those that survive today, uilleann pipes are the most evolved and the most complex. They play two full octaves, unlike any other bagpipe, and are capable of self accompaniment and chords, the drones are also capable of being switched off and on even while being played."

http://www.aniar.net/pipes.html

Answer 2

Uilleann pipes are the bagpipes you see in Irish bands where the piper is seated and using a bellows to inflate a bag which drives the drones which are fitted with valves and all sorts of wild contraptions to modify the sound.

Lowland pipes also known as "border pipes" and are much far less common but are experiencing a resurgence (more so outside of Ireland). They are also driven by a bellows, but much less sophisticated than a set of uilleann pipes.

Also see:
http://www.pipersgathering.org/Uilleann.shtml
http://www.pipersgathering.org/Borderpipes.shtml

Answer 3

uilleann are just a type of bagpipe, theres other kinds. its like calling a baby grand a piano. its just a type of piano. get it?