I can’t access the sound file, frustratingly. Is it only available in the States?
Here is a link to the actual page on SoundCloud:
http://soundcloud.com/clarinetcat/rolling-waves
Thank you, Clarinetcat. I could access that just fine. 
Now to rip it to shreds … 
I like the tone a lot and, to me, the phrasing was fine, if a little stilted and predictable. But hey, it was a very short run through.
I would say that the big thing to work on here is jig rhythm itself. For that, you really do have to listen a lot to good Irish musicians (by which, in case it’s not clear, I mean musicians who are recognised masters of Irish music, not necessarily good musicians who are Irish). The playing in that clip has very even quavers, but that’s not how jig rhythm goes. It’s kind of like saying “pineapple pineapple”. It’s not quite dotted, but it ain’t straight either. You have to get into it. Find some clips of old guys dancing on YouTube - that should help.
I’d back the various calls to slow it down. For me, I prefer the cs sharp rather than natural, but I suppose it depends where you’ve got your version from. There seems to be a fairly standard version that’s played around sessions in Ireland, as far as I can make out, and it has c sharps in it. But there may be pockets where what they play has naturals …
BTW, you’re obviously taking all this in good part. I think it’s brave of you (of anyone) to put their stuff out there to be picked at. I hope you’re able to glean something from the various posts that will help you not only to play whistle better, but to get ever increasing satisfaction from doing so.
Fantastic instrument, whistle.
Thanks… the feedback is definitely valuable. 
Do you happen to have an example of the phrasing, or possibly put up an audio sample of playing this tune?
youtube is your friend. Here are a few clips that might be helpful…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y17Jd319fVI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7wZt2B36nI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoPKvrD-9jw (Comhaltas videos are always good to listen to. This is really nice playing!
You’ll hear the rhythmic differences here, and also quite a number of the variant “ornaments.” The trick, of course, is to know which youtube things to listen to. But I think that becomes obvious fairly quickly. These three are quite different. Notice that some folks call this particular tune a “slow jig.”
The Frenchman reading" analogy was a good one. He too would have the words but lack the accent jut as you do at this point in your playing.
The great thing is you want to learn and are willing to listen. Hats off to you for that, and for your willingness to listen and try to understand the criticisms. And, hats off to the criticizers who are trying so hard to be helpful and not obnoxious!!!
Ah “the Rolling wave” - one of my faves!! If done properly, it should sound like waves .. reminds me of floating in the pool with the wave machine on. made for rolls ..
The Chieftains do a nice job of it as a slipjig and a straight Jig in a medly they call “Sea Image”.
There’s another tune gets called “The Rolling Waves”: But I know it more as McGuires or “The Lonesome Jig”- James Kelly does a nice version. Here’s Mickey Dunne doing it on pipes .. very nice setting!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS2Mo39mBZo&feature=related.
These both go well as slow jigs and set-up nicely together. If played too fast lose all their charm.
Wasn’t that Paddy Glackin doing the fiddle work in “The Boys and Girls”?
(Love his work.)
In case you’re not already using this resource, here’s an excellent whistle tutor, which also addresses the issue of jig rhythm: http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/
Regarding the language/dialect/sheet music issue, I think it’s easy for beginners who didn’t grow up with the music to make incorrect assumptions about how accessible or ‘Western’ the music is. The catchy and accessible sound of many tunes belies the fact that this music is totally ‘other’ from Western popular and classical music. That’s part of the problem with listening to bands play Irish music–they tend to make it palatable to our modern Western ears. Listening to solo/small group recordings by older players is initially more challenging, but once that music starts to sound natural and normal, you’re reaching a good point of immersion.
For a wonderful trip through Irish music/culture, read Ciaran Carson’s Last Night’s Fun. It’s much cheaper than a trip to Ireland and almost as good. http://www.amazon.com/Last-Nights-Fun-About-Traditional/dp/0865475318/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289482686&sr=8-1