Well I suppose its cause for celebrations,this year is Colin and my 10th year as whistlesmiths,I can’t belive it’s gone so quick.
I came across an old video of Bernard teaching me and Colin how to build an Overton so I’ve put up a clip in the Boigraphy section of the www.kerrywhistles.com site ,look in whistlearchive.
Heres to another 10.
All the best
Phil
Phil,
I don’t think you have any business putting up a video showing another whistlesmith’s work. You are posting this without Bernard’s permission, and a long time after Bernard revoked your license to make whistles like his. Very very bad style.
I think you should take it down ASAP.
P.S.: While we are talking about videos on your webpage: Most of them show musicians playing Overtons, and not your whistles. And do you get permission from the musicians before posting your bootleg clips?
P.P.S.: Did you clear this post with Dale?
Uh - can’t these people shown on alleged bootleg clips defend themselves, so that they really need a Bloomfield to do it for them? I must admit that bickering like this is most effective in keeping me from buying any of the Overton-style family of whistles, genuine or not, and I don’t know what good comes from trying to own the design of a musical instrument.
Oh well.
Sonja
“I packed an extra pair of shoes and your angry eyes, just in case”
Mrs. Potato Head, Toy Story 2
I think bloomys got a point about the bernard clip, even if its just for nostolgia’s sake
BUT
Let that not detract from the purpose of this thread (which in my mind is not a commercial, but celebratory)
Congratulations on 10 years of whistle making, may you have that extra ten and may your whistles keep bringing joy to both player and audience for many years to come 
Phil,
Congratulations! I hope you have many more years of whistle making.
–James
Hi Sonja,
I wouldn’t get too hung up about it. If you want an Overton, buy one, if you want a Chieftain, buy one , buy both, whatever. Cillian Vallely plays Chieftains, Sean Smyth plays Overtons, both play together in Lunasa. I doubt if they spend time bickering because of it.
Cheers, Mac
Congratulations, Phil! 
Phil,
Congratulations! I hope to tell you this again ten years from now!
Darryl
I think Bloomfield is quite right to call Phil out on this one. If he hasn’t received Bernard’s permission for posting this clip, it shouldn’t be up there.
It’d be different if this were the first time Bloomfield was jumping on Phil Hardy. But a lot of us are just tired of “Bloomfield hates Phil Hardy” posts. We get it, Bloomfield. You hate Phil Hardy. Now get a life.
I think you’re confusing Bloomfield with someone else, Blackhawk. Lots of folks have questioned Phil’s practices, but only one person here really seems to hate Phil, and it isn’t Bloomfield.
Get a grip Bloom, it’s getting old.
First, you don’t know that he doesn’t have permission.
Second, you have no standing in the matter even if he doesn’t. The only person who can rightfully complain is Bernard Overton, and possibly Colin Goldie. If you think this is wrong, fine, then talk to one of those folks. If they see fit to say something about it, then it’s significant.
HE certainly does NOT have permission!
Brigitte
I’ve decided that I need to say something a little stronger in defense of Bloomfield.
Bloomfield has every right to question Phil’s decisions and ethics. There is a well documented history of questionable behavior (putting it nicely) on Phil’s part, in connection to his relationship with Bernard and Colin. It takes some nerve on Phil’s part to post this clip on his site and then make his post on this site, both of which would lead the uninformed to believe that Phil still had some sort of connection to Bernard and Colin’s work. Exploitative is the word I’d use to describe Phil’s use of the clip, and his post here.
Lots of folks here haven’t been around long enough to know the whole story, and it’s not my business to post all of that, but there is a story, and a long one, and those who know it are distrustful of Phil’s motives. Phil’s recent CD giveaway built up a new image of him around here for those who aren’t in the know. I hope it was sincere, and that Phil lives up to it, but past experience has shown that Phil is nothing if not a shameless self promoter. Over the last several incarnations of the board, 95% of his posts have been commercially motivated, and a good portion of the remainder have been self-defense.
I don’t hate Phil, but I wouldn’t do business with him (and wouldn’t accept a free CD, either).
I’m not saying Phil doesn’t have the right to make his posts (though I hope he’s counting this one as his once-a-month commercial maximum), but don’t try to deny Bloomfield (or Loren, or me) the right to object to Phil’s claims or practices.
That being said, I think I’m going to take a vacation from here. If anyone has any fife related questions, e-mail or pm me. I’ll check back in a couple of weeks.
jim_mc wrote…
past experience has shown that Phil is nothing if not a shameless self promoter
Whats wrong with that? We all know that Phil wants to make a living by selling his whistles and giving away a CD is a great promotional ploy. I see no problem I wouldn’t personally buy one of his whistles I much prefer Overtons but I accepted a CD and enjoyed it.
Putting on a video clip shouldn’t really effect anyone other than giving a bit of free advertising to all concerned.
Dave.
Dear Bloomfield,just to put ya straight on a couple of points,the whistles in the video clips are Chieftains or KerryPros built by myself,there are one or two Overtons here and there but that was unavoidable.ALL of the clips have kind permission from the artists and concidering that I know most of them personally as friend and whistlemaker I suggest that you at lease get your facts straight before posting.
As far as the “Bernard” clip is concerned,there is nothing in it to give away trade secrets just a little nostalgia on my part.
If I really wanted to mess things up I’d put up a video showing all the details of making a KerryPro.
I think that you love to give yourself some importance as the mouthpiece for others.So IMHO MYOB.
Happy Days
Phil.
PS did you register for your free CD yet?.
I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the video issue at this time.
I would say that Phil’s free CD thing has again raised the difficult issue of commercial exploitation of the board. It’s a thorny problem that evades simple answers. I think the board membership, as a whole, has been clear that they do not want an absolute prohibition of commercial activity on the board. The consensus has been that members want it constrained a bit. Without question, the free CD thing was commercial activity and I think we all can see that. As long as it some commercial activity is permitted, it will be hard to quantify how much is too much. It does bother me. Phil has angrily departed the board more than once because he resented my “rules” and has talked about how he would be starting his own board and not using this one again. I do admit to resenting how is still willing to come back and use the board when it serves his purposes.
Just one man’s opinion.
I think that says it all. Without permission, common courtesy alone (whatever the legal or other ramifications might be) should encourage Phil to remove the clip. (And I don’t know anything about any past history between anybody here.)
Susan
I have been around this board, off and on, more than long enough to be familiar with all that has transpired. I agree with what Dlae has written, although I can’t really see anything wrong with Phil’s offer of the free CD. For some odd reason, Bloomfield seems to have annointed himself as the know-it-all of Irish music, as well as the Supreme Judge as to what is right and what is wrong on this message board. Some find his "humor’ amusing, but I’m in the minority that doesn’t. And, like at least one other member, I’m tired of his pontificating, too.
Just a thought or two.
~Larry
All these ongoing squabbles have accomplished so far is steer me away from buying whistles from either maker. :roll: Many of us are getting tired of it. But, I have to say that the whole issue seems rather simple. Either:
OR
Life is too short to get all twisted up in this stuff when we should be enjoying the music. Phil is celebrating 10 years as a whistlesmith and has just released a fabulous CD - and Overton Whistles, with a multi-year waiting list, are in no shortage of work, producing what are undoubtedly the most sought-after whistles on the planet. Sounds to me like neither side has much to complain about.
So, congratulations to all.
Play on!