I’m looking for airs to learn on the low whistle, the more melancholy, heart-wrenching the better. Cape Clear comes to mind but I’m sure there are many out there that are further up the scale of despair. What are your particular favourites and, in each case, if you’re able, can you recommend a particular recording of it, preferably on a whistle. Many thanks.
Amhran A Leabhair 
The Level Plain
My Eliza. Here it is played by the composer Ian McKinnon on low whistle: http://buy.rawlinscross.com/items/67
I prefer it a little slower.
Thanks for your ideas. Obviously we are all different and what we hear as being heart-wrenching and melancholic is likely to vary. The airs suggested so far I find too “pleasant,” for my taste with the exception of Mr Gumby’s selection, An Raibh Tú Ag An Gcarraig, which I already knew and can be heard on Patrick D’Arcy’s album here http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/patrickdarcy. This is more like it for me, a low whistle on the edge. Any more thoughts?
Had to look that one up.
It seems more sweetly longing than melancholy to me, but I haven’t had any luck finding a song version… are there lyrics or was it written purely as a tune?
This is my favorite version on youtube purely because of the multitasking pinky:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui83eZ2EF4Y&t=30s
The airs suggested so far I find too “pleasant,” for my taste with the exception of Mr Gumby’s selection, An Raibh Tú Ag An Gcarraig, which I already knew
I suppose it was a bit of an obvious one and the way I played it was about as cheesy as I am prepared to go.
The low whistle is not my thing at all but maybe you can have a go at the May Morning Dew, Taimse im Chodladh, A Stór Mo Chroí etc those should work for you.
Dark is the colour, Caoineadh na dTrí Mhuire, Port na bPúcaí are wellknown enough as well and may fit the bill as well.
Thanks for the further suggestions. I’ll check them out.
There’s a tune I am fond of that Séamus Ennis collected in the Hebrides. Very simple but I think quite moving when treated right. It’s Port na h-eala air an traigh, the song of the swan on the beach. Ennis said the old people in Barra told him it was the song swans sing before dying (swans ofcourse only sing when dying).
Ennis played it in a documentary by Eamonn de Butleair, Miles and miles of music , which I think has by now made it onto yertube.
If you’re willing to stray beyond ITM, Niel Gow’s Lament for the Death of His Second Wife. Nice workout for the whistle, as it uses the full two-octave range.
I 2nd this. 
Not only is it one of my favorites to play and hear, it is just a lovely tune with a lovely and heart-wrenching story behind it.
Look about 1/3 of the way down this linked page"
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/NI.htm
ecohawk
Caoineadh Uí Néill
Casadh an Tsúgáin (The Twisting of the Hayrope) … it’s in Bill Ochs’ “Tin Whistle” book and therefore on the associated CD (played on a Clarke whistle) - there are a couple of alternative vocal renditions on oo-toob
I also like Eibhli Gheal Chiuin ni Chearbhaill (The Fairy Lady of Loch Laerne) … I learnt it from John Martyn’s recording on (I think) distorted electric guitar. I believe it’s an old pipe tune.
There’s a tune I am fond of that Séamus Ennis collected in the Hebrides. Very simple but I think quite moving when treated right. It’s Port na h-eala air an traigh, the song of the swan on the beach. Ennis said the old people in Barra told him it was the song swans sing before dying (swans ofcourse only sing when dying).
Ennis played it in a documentary by Eamonn de Butleair, Miles and miles of music , which I think has by now made it onto yertube.
I am also quite fond of this tune.
here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdeNcyJT4z4
It starts at about 18:15
I am rubbish at abc or I’d write it out for you, maybe someone else will?
But it is the type of thing thats easy to get once its in your head, such a simple, effective, emotive tune.
Piper’s Prayer
A 2nd for Port na bPúcaí
Sé Bhfáth Mo Bhfuartha (‘Tis My Bitter Sorrow) or 'Sé Fáth Mo Bhuartha. There’s a version by Vincent Griffin (fiddle).
Cailín na Gruaige Doinne
Phoenix Island
Caoineadh Uí Dhomhnaill
Wow! Many thanks. There’s a few there for me to check out!!
Hard to be more melancholy than Lament for the Children.
About which it has been written
“It’s a hard tune. Hard on the player. Hard on the listener. Hard on us all.”
I found this bit online about it, which mentions the related song in the Gaelic vocal tradition
Ceòl Mór or piobaireachd as it is sometimes called is a Gaelic art form. It is not surprising then that there are songs in Gaelic oral tradition which have strong links to Ceòl Mór. Some of these songs have a direct connection to pibrochs that are still well known and performed by modern pipers. The pibroch known as ‘Lament for the Children’ was written in the 17th century by Patrick Mòr MacCrimmon after the death of seven of his eight children from smallpox, all in the same year. There is also a Gaelic song version related to the Lament, called ‘Fhir a’ Chinn Duibh’, ‘Black-haired Lad’. It is thought the words of this may relate to the loss of the favourite son amongst the seven.
Plenty of heartrending airs ofcourse from Cronan na Maher to The Kerrywoman’s Lament and all of those tohers with horrible stories attached. Not sure the woolly low whistle treatment is the suitable way to go for all of them though.