I’m a relatively new member of the forum, and completely new to the Irish flute world. In a couple of days I am going abroad to England and Ireland on a school program offered through my history department. I would really like to purchase an Irish flute while I am abroad, which is why I am here. If anyone could direct me to a decent music store with a good Irish flute in Dublin, I would really appreciate it. My price range runs a little above £200.00, I think this is adequate for a keyless beginner’s instrument. Thank you
Not the response your going to want to hear but music stores are the worst place to buy an Irish flute. You are unlikely to find anything good in a shop. Dont buy anything made in Pakistan (ie no named maker) Even if you do find a flute its likely to have a huge markup. You may find a Seery or De Keyser in a Dublin shop though. you might want to ask around at a few sessions if anyone has one for sale.
I’ll chime in and agree with dunnp. There are several specialists on the internet who can assist you with more probability of satisfaction. Doc Jones at the Irish Flute Store springs to mind. I fear that if you go in to, for example Walton’s, you may come away with a wall hanger. . .or not. The idea of buying as personal an instrument as a flute as a sort of tourist exercise just doesn’t inspire confidence.
A parallel story: A friend made the ‘haj’ to Ireland to connect to his heritage. This was thirty-mumble years ago. He bought a practice set of Uilleann pipes in Waltons. This could have been a total disaster, but later, in a drinking session he met up with some musicians who took pity on him and went about setting him straight. He was taken around to meet Hughes & McCloud, and Johnny Burke, and one other maker. Now understand he had a more liberal budget than you have indicated, and the upshot was that he contracted for a truly fine full-set, and about three weeks after he returned to the 'States was in possession of this set of pipes. The Walton’s set was rescued from the bin and made into a loaner for the local piper’s group.
As McNeills seems to have moved to Clare, that was the shop specialising in traditional instruments.
At least Waltons seemed to have stopped selling Pakistani flutes.
A shop around will do no harm, like I said you may find a shop with a forgotten DeKeysr flute sitting in a case somewhere.
heres a thought for you,
pop into Waltons and pick up a Dixon tapered bore 30-40 euros to tide you over
I played one recently in Edinburgh and thought it was okay for what it is
make sure its the tapered bore not the other model
But maybe it’s better to contact a flutemaker directly.
Desi Seery lives near Dublin adn he might help you to a great delrin flute.
There might be other makers, but I fear 200 pounds isn’t going to get you one of the high end flutes.
Desi is a character I met him in Lanzarote a few years ago. He picked up a fellow I know in Dublin and brought him out to Bray on the back of a motorcycle years ago or the story goes.