*Bump
Thought it be worth a revisit after a few years 
pastorkeith
You just HAD to bump it when I’m about to go to sleep! Many thanks though…I’m a huge fan of sad songs and this thread will give me lots to look for!
Yes, it really is worth to revisit!
My five copecks: Shule Agra, also known as Jonny has gone for soldier
Davy Spillane’s piping piece from Riverdance…Lament for Cuchalain…
Destroys me every time…It was actually this piece that turned me on to Irish Music…thanks Davy…
Same here, got all inspired by this one, can still listen to it over and over again without tiring of it.
Also Cherish the Ladies, The Ballad of the Foxhunter on Threads of Time , just beautiful and Sliabh Geal gCua by Joannie Madden.
Two votes:
“Ann Maguire’s Silver Wedding” (John McCusker)
“Inion ni Scannlain” (Lunasa)
Whilst not an Irish tune I love Ashokan Farewell. It’s my favorite sad song to play on whistle.
Although I havn’t figured it out for whistle The Band Played Waltzing Mathilda will always make me cry.
I think I’ll buy all of the above from Itunes and cry for hours…
I nominate Young Ned of the Hill played by Joannie
(did I miss it? I always forget its other name..).
In the Probably-Non-ITM category, how 'bout Flook’s Glass Polka?
Guess I’m cold hearted cause music doesn’t make me cry, music fills me with enjoyment. 
The basis guts of the song may be found here
http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiBANDPLAY;ttBANDPLAY.html
then adapt some of the notes to make it sound as it should from recordings
regards
David
boulavogue and the dawning of the day
I know that this is a little different, but we would suggest “Absent Friends” by Kevin Crawford (Lunasa) Just a great, great melody.
I know it’s not an Irish tune but Diamantina Drover by Redgum is heart breaking as a whistle solo.
Carrickfergus. Oh My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose. (that’s Scottish–hope that’s allowed)
An Raibh Tu Ag An GCarraig (Were You at the Rock, in english). Quite possibly the most lonesome, tear-jerking song that can be played on the penny whistle. You can see Seamus Ennis playing it on the uilleann pipes here:
The lady that played whistle in Redgum is solely responsible for me taking up playing the whistle,
After watching a live performance, years ago i was literally blown away,
for me she made the whole performace,
the band redgum has many great thought provoking songs,
-I was only 19, still tugs on heart strings,
I have just recently finished teaching my 11 yr old daughter the words to Poor Ned, which she has a fascination about, the whistle solo in that is nice also
Regards
david
Ur-Chnoc Chéin Mhic Chainte