On my recent trip to Ireland I had the great honour of playing a full session with Sean Ryan in Galway (Crane Bar). What a thrill. He is one amazing whistler - and so unassuming. We played a lot of stuff of his CD - ‘Take the Air’ plus every other tune we could remember. The session lasted for about 3 hours and I taped the whole thing on my mini-disc.
For anyone travelling to Galway, stop into the Crane on Sunday around 1pm. Sean has been doing this session for 23 years now every Sunday.
What’s a good cd(s) by this guy? (and record label it’s on?) I’m worried I’m missing out here due to my ignorance. Are his recordings very traditional or modernized?
I’ve been listening to the Totally Traditional Tin Whistles cd for about a year. It’s taken a good number of listenings to really appreciate what’s going on there.
Tony
These are his two CD’s Tony. Either one is as good as the other (IMHO). They are on the Gael Linn record label.
Seán Ryan Take the Air: Siúil Uait
Seán Ryan The Minstrels Fancy: Cliaraí Ceoil
That sounds like one cool way to spend an afternoon! I wonder, being a Ryan myself, if I could claim relation and have a free place to stay, too?
Sean Ryan was my teacher last year at Willie week. He’s very impressive. I guess his trademark is his tongued rolls and cuts, lotsa whistle players do mimic his style.
Gypsy, who else was at the session at the Crane? Was it a big session? Did you by chance see an italian flute player? (or his friend, a big italian guy who plays the box).
Sean actually lives in a castle in Tipperary. Apparently the castle is haunted. There was a recent documentary on RTE about it - didn’t get to see it 
It was cool alright. Sean actually plays a Susato (for anyone who is interested).
There was Pat Conneely (the guitar player who always plays with Sean) and a banjo, a mandolin and that was it - no Italians. A really nice small session where the whistles were not drowned out by a mass of loud instruments.
Hi Gypsy,
Pleased you enjoyed the session-keeping heavy company eh? Sean Ryan is a fine player-I own both of his albums.
Could you please let us know what sort of whistles he is playing these days? Cheers.
Kevin, he played a susato (D) and had a Eb also but didn’t use it.
Cheers,Gypsy.
I wondered,because I know that he played Susato(“Feadog Shusato” as it’s billed on the cover!) on the ‘Minstrel’s fancy’ album.
There’s nothing like a Susato to scare the ghosts away! 
In the documentary he actually didn’t play the susato, maybe they come haunt him when he plays it at home.