Dale,
Thank you for your interesting and informative website on whistles.
I am hoping you would be willing to offer some advice. While traveling I like to purchase a traditional folk instruments of the countries I visit. I will be in Dublin soon and I would like to add a penny whistle to my collection. I am hoping you could give me some information on Irish manufactures (I am assuming there are some) and recommendations as to whose whistles might best represent traditional Ireland and Irish folk music. Are there any long time manufactures? Are there Irish craftsman (as oppose to a company) making handmade whistles today in or near Dublin? Are there music shops in Dublin that you would recommend? What would you describe as a traditional Irish whistle? Although my preference would be a high D metal whistle with a metal mouthpiece with a wood fipple, the type and price (inexpensive versus expensive) of the whistle are not as important to me as the instrument’s “Irish story.” Lastly, I would like to buy a brand new whistle currently being manufactured or crafted and not a used instrument.
From your website I can see you have a great wealth of knowledge on whistles and have a commendable wiliness to share it. I will be grateful if you could share with me some thoughts, recommendations and advice.
Thank you in advance for your email reply and again thank you for your website.
Keith
You could try Walton’s Music store which is just off O’Connell St, Dublin on North Frederick St.
See -: map
http://www.centralr.com/Waltons_Hotel.html
They have a large selection of whistles.
If you are in Dublin and would like to hear good live music go to Oliver St. John O’Gogharty’s at Temple Bar. It’s near the end of Grafton St. in the bohemian part of the city but go early as they seem to be short of seats.
Waltons is a good place to look and McCullough - Piggott in Suffolk Street is another. Suffolk Street is easy to find ,it is at the bottom of Grafton Street beside the Molly Malone statue.
I would not recommend the Temple Bar area to anybody as it is just one big tourist trap with rip off prices and the music tends to be mainly Ballads and singalong stuff rather than ITM.
It might be an idea to check out this place for info about where the serious musicians hang out
http://www.pipers.ie/en/default.lasso
Don’t let any romantic idea of Dublin blind you to the reality of street crime. Pickpockets and Handbag snatchers abound so keep your wits about you at all times.
Here is a link to a Dublin website which you may find helpful
http://www.dublintourist.com/
Sorry I can’t be more helpful but there has been huge changes to Dublin since I lived there…
Slan,
D.
Waltons. Then there is a guy in Wicklow who is close friends with Joe McKenna the Ulliean Piper who makes pipes, flutes, and Possibly whistles. Wicklow borders Dublin County, and Captain Anderson knows him also, you could check with him. Or Captain Anderson, when reading this may volunteer contact information for him.
And don’t forget Soodlums, Waltons has scads of them in bins. Irish companys benefit Irish people.
Good luck, and have fun!
You could try Desi Seery
Desi Seery
40 Wolftone Square West
Bray, County Wicklow
Ireland
Tel: +353 (1) 2866192