Uilleann pipes
As a young man Hannigan began performing at festivals and local events, playing the Uilleann pipes, tin whistle and percussion instruments. In 1991 he and Simon Care performed the soundtrack for a BBC radio play, "Voyage of the Swallows", by Eric Pringle. In 1992 he won an All-Britain Uillean pipe award. In 1994 he published an instructional book, "Bodhrán Basics"