Career
Originally from the Rosslea area of County Fermanagh, McAloon"s first instrument was the fiddle. However, he is best known as a master of the uilleann pipes. He emigrated to the United States in 1964, but after a year he returned to Ireland.
He spent eight months working as a builder"s labourer in Dublin, but moved to Belfast in 1966 to be closer to his family.
There, he got a job working for the Corporation Parks Department. His major inspirations as a piper were Philosophy Martin, whom he saw playing at a feis in Rosslea, and Leo Rowsome.
In addition to being a fine player, McAloon eventually became a respected pipe repairer and a highly regarded reed-maker. He produced about twenty sets of the instrument in his lifetime.
John McSherry owns a McAloon half-set.
