Drums like the bodhran have been played in Ireland for centuries. But it’s only recently that an explosion of new interest in the instrument has taken off. Nowadays, you can find bodhrans for sale all over the world, by a wide variety of makers. When you’re looking for a bodhran, be aware that there are…
The tin whistle is often one of the first instruments a player picks up on their journey through Irish music. Because of this, many people don’t quite take it as seriously as they should. Listening to these tin whistle players is a perfect cure for any such snobbery! The tin whistle has been played in…
The concertina is one of the little wonders of the music world. There are an amazing amount of buttons, levers, reeds, and mechanics stuffed into a small and portable box. They’ve been particularly popular in Irish and English folk music, and have a strong association with sailors. When it comes to buying one, there are…
The tin whistle is one of the most fun instruments to play. Small enough to put in your pocket, it has a sweet, chirpy tone that is perfect for a variety of music. Often, it’s the first instrument someone picks up when they start learning Irish music. There are many places to find tin whistles…
One of Ireland’s most cherished traditions is singing. From the Irish-language sean-nós (“old style”) to rebel ballads to rowdy drinking songs, Ireland has a rich catalog of folk songs and singers. They tell the story of hundreds of years of laughter and tears, oppression and perseverance, feast and famine. The 1960s folk revival brought a…
Think of Irish music, and chances are you think of the fiddle. Fiddle players have a special place in Irish tradition, from the traveling dance masters of the 18th century through to today’s young virtuosos. Francis O’Neill, collector and chronicler of Irish music, once wrote that the fiddle is, in the minds of many, the…
The uilleann pipes are known for being one of the most difficult instruments to play. One famous saying is that it takes “7 years of learning, 7 years of practicing, and 7 years of playing” to finally master the pipes. Great uilleann pipers are revered in Irish music as bearers of one of the most…
If you’re looking for an Irish flute, there are plenty of places to find one for sale. The issue is, they can be tough to find at first. While the flute is a very popular instrument in Irish music, it’s still a little too niche to be carried by big retailers like Amazon or Guitar…
Unless you’re very lucky, you probably can’t find a set of uilleann pipes for sale in your local music shop. The pipes are a very niche instrument, and not many people out thre make or play them. Luckily, the internet has made it easier than ever to research makers and find sets of uilleann pipes…
The flute is one of the most iconic and popular instruments in traditional Irish music, with many great players. According to Francis O’Neill, who wrote about Irish music at the turn of the 20th century, No musical instrument was in such common use among the Irish peasantry as the flute. O’Neill’s The Flute and Its Patrons is one of…
