Does anyone know if there are any Irish flute websites where the flutes aren’t so EXPENSIVE? Almost everytime I see a Irish flute I want and like, I am turned away by the price. 
I really want one, but I don’t want to get crazy with the prices.
Thanks a lot!
Collin
Sure, you can get a very nice PVC flute from Doug Tipple for way less than $100:
http://home.earthlink.net/~life2all/dougswebspace/
I do a lot of testing of Doug’s prototype flutes as well as his production models and they really are wonderful instruments for a new player.
Wow! Those really are inexpensive! 
Do they sound pretty good? I couldn’t come across any sound samples.
I feel the same about Matisse paintings, but have not yet foung a cheap source.
I don’t know what your price range is but you can get a very nice wooden flute from Casey Burns for $250…the “folk flute”
Or if you’re into polymer there’s Dixon, M&E, or Seery all for $300-$450.
Or you could get a Bamboo flute from Pat Olwell for under $100.
Any of the above are terrific instruments. The Tipples are also great bang for the buck.
Doc
Can anyone tell me Pat Olwell’s website?
Olwell doesn’t have a website.
Regarding Tipple flutes, if you’ll scroll down on Doug Tipple’s website, you’ll find a sound sample of his flute (played by Michael Eskin).
What key are you looking for in a flute. Perhaps I could make one for you. Do you live close to Houston?
tommyviking1@aol.com
Which one would you like? I’m sure I could run you one up… how does half price sound?
Is that half your usual price ?
I was thinking auction price:
Lot 226, “La Lecture (Deux Fillettes, Bouquet de Pivonines sur Fond Noir),” is an oil on canvas, 18 1/8 by 21 3/4 inches, by Henri Matisse (1869-1954) that is an extremely weak example of the artist’s work and has a very ambitious estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It was passed at $3,600,000. It was executed in 1947 and shows two woman reading a book on a table with a vase of flowers. It is not a fine Matisse.
See this is for a bum Matisse, you could pay me in flutes!
AS someone else has pointed out, the sound samples are there in his site.
Having recently acquired a Tipple Eb I would say it easily out ranks any bansuri of similar price and key in terms of sound, fingering facility and responsiveness. The large tone holes are great. It is unbreakable and with the bonus of a tuning slide, in my opinion, it surpasses any one piece bamboo flute.
I was very much influenced by the sound samples before I ordered the Eb and I definitely have not been disappointed.
Has Pat Olwell begun making them again? I think he had stopped for a while.
Steve Cox also makes bamboos.
But, you know, The Master has spoken on the topic of Tipples. That holds some weight around here. I think your choice is an easy one! It’s a Tipple, for sure.
For now, anyway. You’ll get the thing, and then you’ll play it, and then you’ll start reading about everybody’s flute(s), and you’ll notice that they all seem to have somewhere between a bushel and a small load of them, and before you know it, you’ll have FlOAD, too.
Sigh.
Talasiga,
Just for clarity, have you played an Olwell bamboo? 
Doc
It was executed in 1947 and shows two woman reading a book on a table with a vase of flowers. It is not a fine Matisse.
Seems a tad harsh to execute it just because it’s not a fine Matisse…
Eric
I only collect fine Matisses ( but I don’t have any yet ).
Yeah… it’s those crazy Irish! 
Looks there really was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
No I haven’t Mr Jones.
One thing I know is that the Olwell bamboo like most other bamboos (including all the top range expensive bansuris) does not have a tuning slide. The tuning slide on the Tipple is a bonus. This is my point.
When the likes of Harsh Wardhan (Chaurasia’s principal flute maker) begin making bansuri’s with tuning slide I will sell my Irish wooden D flute and get one of these bamboo flutes in D with tuning slide.
Master Talasiga
And an excellent point it is. Thanks for the clarification.
And just so that I’m clear. I think the Tipple is astounding bang for the buck and a great-sounding flute as well…yup I’ve had one.
Doc