Martin Milner wrote (in the “Instruments you can’t play and still be cool” thread), “How about a list of instruments that don’t get used in Irish Music but would be fun if they tried!”
My nominations:
Glockenspiel
Ocarina
Tubular Bells
Bassoon
bajo sexto
frottoir
triangle (played the Cajun way)
Beware, the dark side is at work here!
CELLO!
Cromhorns and ranketts. A lot of Irish dance music has a sort of early Rennaissance feel to it anyway, these buzzy little suckers would really enhance that side of it.
–James
http://www.flutesite.com
Hammond B3 Organ!!!
Kazoo.
Can’t go wrong with a kazoo
Saxaphone!
One word…
GONG.
Think about it:-P
On 2002-05-20 13:50, Sara wrote:
Saxaphone!
Actually Josie McDermott (Late-Great Singer, Whistle Player, and Fluter) won the All-Ireland on Saxophone under the Miscellaneous Instruments Category. Also, give a listen to At The Rackett’s first CD to hear some might-mighty IrTrad with the Alto Sax (the CD also has a great flute duet). ALSO, many of the big Ceili bands had Saxophones in the mix. The Ardellis Ceili Band is one of the main ones, so was the Gallowglass Ceili Band. I think they also employed 5 string banjos, too (another non-traditional instrument). In any case, a good-sensitive player makes all the difference.
I would like to nominate 97% of the instruments in the Lark in the Morning Catalog. That includes the Irish Flute made in Pakistan; which should only be used for microtonal music played on a deserted island with no hope of rescue. After you bash dinner on the head with it, that is. . .
How about a nose flute?
I was at a festival. And a fella put a trumpet mouthpiece onto a hose and then attached a funnel on the other end.
He spinned the funnel around with the hose and played a tune with it.
I cannot recall the name of the tune. Most definately not of Irish origin.
It went like this…
Dun Dun Dun DAH Dun
Dun Dun Dun DaH Dun
Dun Dun Dun DaH Dun
Dun Dun Dun Dahh.
Figure that one out 
In the meantime I will try to locate it on one of my classical cds.
Laura
On 2002-05-20 12:21, CoyneLover wrote:
CELLO!
Not all that uncommon. See, for instance, DeDannan’s Ballroom.
On 2002-05-20 12:21, CoyneLover wrote:
CELLO!
Huh? The Hill City Slickers use a cello as a bass! The guy just put a strap on the thing and now it’s a 5 string bass.
Well, considering my username, this is no surprize:
Tuba, the king of heavy metal… 
One of the people whom I play celtic music with plays Didjeridoo and Alto Sax, along with tin whistles.Didjeridoo sounds really good for alot of jig and reels. Also at teen Celtic music camp we have about 5 or 6 cello players, who are really good. Even scarrier, the fiddler in my group also plays nose flute
Caryn
Conga drums work great.
Djembes
mbiras
marimbas
how about a sitar?
computers
A gong would certainly be fun in a session - an enthusiastic player could deafen everybody with one stroke, creating a group of people who think that all music , however badly played, sounds good!
On 2002-05-20 14:09, Mark_J wrote:
On 2002-05-20 13:50, Sara wrote:
Saxaphone!Actually Josie McDermott (Late-Great Singer, Whistle Player, and Fluter) won the All-Ireland on Saxophone under the Miscellaneous Instruments Category. Also, give a listen to At The Rackett’s first CD to hear some might-mighty IrTrad with the Alto Sax (the CD also has a great flute duet). ALSO, many of the big Ceili bands had Saxophones in the mix. The Ardellis Ceili Band is one of the main ones, so was the Gallowglass Ceili Band. I think they also employed 5 string banjos, too (another non-traditional instrument). In any case, a good-sensitive player makes all the difference.
That’s very interesting - I didn’t know the sax had ever been played in Irish music. I’m going to look for At The Rackett’s first CD -
I’m quite curious as to what the sax contributes to Irish. I’m guessing it gives it a slight jazz sound.
I second what Jo C said, I’d love to hear a sitar, that would be SO cool!