My favorite whistle is a Burke BUT my next favorite and one that gets plenty of playing time too is a very old Generation C and it was certainly cheap.
That’s one of the many great things about tinwhistles. Cheap does not necessairly equal poor instrument. 
The Guinness is actually made by Waltons. It’s basically a Waltons Little Black, only with a cream-colored head and a a Guinness label. I have one too…it’s a fun, growly little whistle.
Redwolf
I too have Shite n Onions vol. 1, and while I like it ok, most of it seems kinda like the Pogues but not as, well Poguish. There are a lot of Shane MacGowan-type singers on the CD who are hindered, I bet, by the fact that they still have all their teeth. No one can rival St. Shane. Now if I could just get my damn leg to move like Spider Stacey’s…
Welcome to tinwhistling–it has changed my life for the weirder.
Yes. If it costs less than $10 or £10 we call it cheap. You can spend over £80 on a D whistle, if you must. As mentioned by Random above, this does not equate with poor or bad in any way.